Portman's tease boosts Chevalier

Hotel Chevalier, the 13-minute prologue to Wes Anderson's new feature The Darjeeling Limited (see review), has generated significant buzz on the internet-perhaps more than its 91-minute counterpart. This, however, may have less to do with the story and more to do with Natalie Portman's well-publicized stint of nudity (okay, so it's only a side-cheek snippet). The short, which was offered for free download on iTunes, stars Anderson-staple Jason Schwartzman as Jack, who reappears as the main character in Limited.

Jack orders a grilled cheese sandwich at a luxurious Parisian hotel some time before Darjeeling's featured trip to India. Soon he receives a phone call from Portman's sultry character announcing her arrival in the city. The pair's sensual interactions and Jack's indifferent attitude are referenced towards the end of Limited. As an isolated story, however, Chevalier is a poignant glimpse at a relationship rife with history, troubled but loving. Amidst the awkward Schwartzman mannerisms and the folksy, semi-narrative blasts of Jack's iPod are details that point to graver issues. The bruises that run along her body, the loaded silences-each work to hint at past and present troubles. Although Anderson lapses too eagerly into the art of the awkward silence, the short is nevertheless another reminder of the tender relationships that exist just below the Anderson surface.