:
Romen Avinian,
Romen Avinian,
Lala Sarkissian,
more...
:
Hiner Saleem,
Hiner Saleem
see all cast/crew...
: New Yorker Video
: 88 min.
: Russian
: English
see additional details...
|
|
A poverty-stricken widower finds new love in a cemetery in this engaging dark comedy from Kurdish filmmaker Hiner Saleem. Hamo (Romen Avinian) is an elderly man living in a small Armenian community which has fallen on hard times since the collapse of the Soviet Union -- where the Soviets at least provided the villagers with free water and electricity, in their current "free" state the locals have to pay for such things, which is no easy task since work is very difficult to find. Hamo, who is attempting to support himself, his eldest son, and his granddaughter on a meager military pension, has put nearly all his faith in one of his sons, who has supposedly found work in Paris. While Hamo waits for word (and a check) from France, he makes frequent visits to the local cemetery, where he visits his late wife. One day, while paying his respects, he meets Nina (Lala Sarkissian), a widow who similarly comes by to chat with her late husband and works as a barmaid at one of the few taverns left in town. Hamo becomes quite fond of Nina, and she responds in kind, but between his loyalty to his deceased bride and her shyness, neither is naturally inclined to make the first move. Vodka Lemon was the winner of the San Marco Prize at the 2003 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
|
| A heartwarming story
by aBonnett
September 19, 2006 - 5:14 PM PDT
|
|
| This slow moving flm was visually stunning at times. The emotions of the characters were subtle yet effective. The ending was really sweet and left me with hope for the human spirit even through extreme hardship. |
| Armenian Vodka (it tastes like almond)
by talltale
December 22, 2005 - 8:22 PM PST
|
|
|
4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
|
The difference between the information that a close-up or long shot can provide is cleverly made clear a number of times in the first few minutes of VODKA LEMON, a movie about a remote village in post-Soviet-occupied Armenia. Sounds like a place most moviegoers will rush to visit, no? Their loss if they don't, because this slight, charming and very visual movie uses small doses of whimsy to offset the staggering amount of "lack" the villagers must contend with.
As the film progresses, nearly everything these people own must be sold in order for them to stay alive. And yet, they do, with gravity and more humor than you could reasonably expect. Directed and co-written by Kurdistan filmmaker Hiner Saleem, the movie opens up a culture and its customs that may seem pretty bizarre--yet riveting--to American eyes. Riveting, too, are the actors who essay these characters, whom we spend enough time with to quietly, steadily appreciate their needs, responses, occasional delights and many disappointments. Time will tell, but I suspect this film will remain lodged in the back of my mind for quite awhile. |
|
|
GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.29)
14 Votes
add to list 
|
|
|
Your cart
© 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Movie Guide®,
a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.