Whisky

I couldn't disagree more with the last comment. Probably the best movie to come out of Uruguay in a long time. This is a beautiful subtle movie but definitely not for those who need to be told when to laugh or when to feel. Full of humor, full of sadness, and really smart. A great step towards maturity taken by the directors of "25 watts". I cant wait to see where they go with their third movie. Anyone has any idea? Again, if you need an applause sign to tell you what's good, you wont know what to do with this movie.

Give subtlety a try.

Keep it simple.

There's much to appreciate, and yes the repetitive nature of much of the film (perfectly represented by the whirring of the machines in the factory) is part of its allure and yet...in some respects I can't disagree with those who hurled horrible ratings at this film. It IS tedious. That doesn't mean it's not worth watching, but I have to admit it's hard to give boundless kudos to something that barely keeps your attention at times. I've never seen a film where the same things that make it brilliant, also make it dull and hard to watch.

The weather can get cold in Montevideo. Yet, some people's life down there may a lot of fun, but life is certainly not a piece of cake for Marta. She's working in a run down sock factory, she has no social life or family. When her boss, Don Jacobo, asks her to pose as his wife for a couple of days, while his brother Hernan visits him from Brazil, she accepts immediately.

This movie is subtle, and thoroughly enjoyable. The performance of the actors is simply incredible. Marta is a demure middle-aged woman who probably has not shared much love in her life. You can sense her burning desire to settle down and to share love and shelter with a man. Jacobo and Hernan are two brothers with opposite personalities. They have never talked to one another, and it is probably too late now. Each of them is clumsy and unintentionally cruel in his own special way. The two directors did an amazing work in the script. So little is said, or even shown, and so much can be felt about the characters (the two brothers who failed to deal with their emotions, about Marta and her life). The movie is also a chance to see some of Uruguay, particularly Montevideo and the seaside. A very nice break from Hollywood well-formated products. We'll wait for the new opus from these two young directors with great anticipation.

A struggling Uruguayan businessman persuades his equally unglamourous assistant to pretend to be his wife in order to impress his estranged brother. If this conjures up thoughts of 'The Birdcage', or you imagine a riotous South American carnival of a film, you'd best prepare yourself otherwise, for 'Whisky' is characterised by almost exaggeratedly understated acting and a bone dry humour;, and its real subject matter is the psychology of failure. At start, it feels slow, but as one gets used to the characters, one sees more of the joke and sadness in the subtle plot. There are some resemblances to early Jarmusch, but even so, it's questionable whether one can make a wholly successful movie when quite so little explicit happens. In Uruguay, incidentally, they say "whisky" instead of "cheese" when a photograph is taken; but the deeper meaning of the film's title remains elusive at its end.

This movie is a true gem. Perhaps not for everyone, but those who can appreciate subtle, sensitive films will not be disappointed. In fact, subtlety is the keyword in this film. Nothing is spelled out, nobody even raises his voice, and still the story is full of emotion. It's all about small gestures and unspoken words. Take the way the viewer initially discovers that Hernan is richer and more successful than his brother Jacobo. There's nothing about Hernan's clothing or his behaviour that suggests this, but Jacobo suspects that the pair of socks his brother gave him are more expensive than the pair Jacobo gave his brother. The movie is packed with these kind of small signals, and that is exactly its strength, together with the superb acting and the nice locations (the soccer stadium!). In that way, the movie is comparable to Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki's style.