Julie Delpy & Chris Rock Confront Racial Stereotypes 'In New York'

French writer/director/actress Julie Delpy, best known for starring opposite Ethan Hawke in Before Sunrise (1995) and its sequel Before Sunset (2004), is probably not the first name that comes to mind when you hear the words "Chris Rock movie." But get used to it — when Delpy was writing 2 Days in New York, her follow-up to 2 Days in Paris, she created the character Mingus with Rock in mind. (The two first met at the 2005 Academy Awards ceremony, where Rock was hosting and Delpy was nominated.)

2 Days in New York, which had its first premiere at Sundance, will also be featured at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The film follows Marion, played by Delpy, who has split with her boyfriend, Jack, from 2 Days in Paris. Marion now lives with Mingus and his daughter, and the uproarious comedy gets going when Marion's French family stops by for a visit. These nutballs include Marion's father (played by Delpy's actual father, Albert Delpy), sister Rose (Alexia Landeau) and ex-bofriend Manu (Alexandrew Nahon).

Manu brings about much of the laughter, given the fact that he is not very delicate with racial sensitivities. Delpy and Rock agreed, however, that Manu is not a racist Frenchman — he's just oblivious. "It’s not racism. I mean, the guy is an idiot," Delpy told New York Magazine. Rock concurred: "There’s a difference between racism and 'I don’t know any better. I’m clueless.' Racism is like, 'I’m trying to make you feel bad.' That’s racism. This is, 'I’m gonna say something stupid because I don’t f***ing know any better.'”

For example, at one point in the film Manu tells Mingus' sister that she looks Beyoncé. In reality, she looks nothing like her. "He doesn’t know!" Delpy explained. "He thinks it’s a compliment. He’s trying to flirt with her, trying to pick her up."

Watch the trailer here: