Exiting the U-Bahn station, the sheer monstrosity of this plaza is overwhelming. With a giant television tower soaring towards the patchy cloud sky, the concrete seduction of Alexander Platz is hardly inviting. Instead, you feel a rather unpleasant effect, leaving you bewildered by why the place was even created. It may sound harsh, but the lack of aesthetic proficiency is disheartening. The historical significance is the only thing binding me to exploring its existence. I’ll have more on that later.

At the Berlin Film Festival, I enjoyed a humorous new film by actress/director Julie Delpy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset). Since it was the last day of the screenings, I decided on something I was confident would leave me smiling, and upbeat. Considering I suffered from a major dose of jet lag, this film left me charmed and full of kick.

“2 Days In Paris”, Julie Delpy’s written, directed, and produced film, stars Adam Goldberg and Julie Delpy as an odd couple that’s returning home to New York City after a romantic excursion through Venice. The two, suffering from malcontent and neurotic tendencies, stop in Paris for two days to pick up “Marion’s”, (Julie Deply’s character), cat Jean-Luc.

While in Paris, “Jack” (Adam Goldberg’s character), formally meets Marion’s family, and is thrust into their highly dramatic lifestyle. Jack the American and Marion the Frenchwoman, both inexplicably high-strung and a bit odd, create a tumultuous dynamic consisting of Jack’s jealousy driven intuitions and Marion’s disregard for honesty. Oh, she’s a bit of a sexual vagabond as well.

Laced with rich doses of politically incorrect humor, sweeping cultural generalizations, and unrestrained sexual wit, the movie evades simplicity by placing the characters in a healthy sense of “real-life.” In an attempt to tackle scenarios that deal with language barriers, sexual freedom, and gender roles, “2 Days In Paris” salutes the rigors of staying sane in a 21st century relationship. Though jovial at times with it’s humor, the movie delivers a signature Delpy-esque sophistication that leaves you shyly grinning because at one point or another you’ve “connected” to the character. Sharp, witty, and delightfully funny, “2 Days In Paris” scores two thumbs up for its ruthless banter, neurotic impulse, and wonderful dialogue. Not sure about the distribution on this one, but I’m sure you’ll be able to catch it in the states.