A sequel to the 2002 international hit ''L’Auberge Espagnole'', ''Les Poupées russes'' is a cosmopolitan comedy of manners about sex and other forms of international relations. Directed by Cédric Klapisch with his trademark mix of gentle whimsy and sophisticated realism, the film paints a complex picture of a young generation of European yuppies struggling to find their place in an ever-changing world of sexual opportunities and economic hardships. Our hero, Xavier (Romain Douris) certainly has his hands full trying to juggle relationships with no less than 8 different women, including his ex (Audrey Tautou) who might still be in love with him, his lesbian friend (Cécile de France) on whose loyalty he can always count, a crazy Spanish girlfriend (Irene Montala) who loves to run completely naked in the streets at night, an exotic conquest (Aïssa Maïga) who's a bit bewildered by Xavier's revolving-door policy on women, various one-night-stands (Isabelle Joly and Anne Steffens) with weird quirks of their own, a gorgous top model (Lucy Gordon) whose romantic sincerity could be doubted, and a coy English lass (Kelly Reilly), who just might be ''the one''. Set in Paris, London and Sankt-Petersburg, ''Les Poupées russes'' isn't as sweet as ''L'Auberge espagnole'', but it more than makes up for it in eroticism and hedonistic wit.
