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, Rovi
Saleem nourishes his tale of the widower Hamo and widow Nina with a greening bud of romance. And he has wit and warmth to spare for all the movie's denizens.
Worthwhile for the cinematography alone, which is nothing short of inspired, such as the love scene shot through the pale pattern of a lace curtain, which dissolves almost imperceptibly into the whiteout of a steady blizzard.
Worthwhile for the cinematography alone, which is nothing short of inspired, such as the love scene shot through the pale pattern of a lace curtain, which dissolves almost imperceptibly into the whiteout of a steady blizzard.
Despite some banalities and Romen Avinian's slightly overdone Hamo, Vodka Lemon is a fresh breath of air, warmer than the icy village in which it takes place. You'll leave the theater with a wink and a smile.
"Vodka Lemon" takes place in Armenia where Hamo(Romen Avinian) is an aging widower who visits his wife's grave everyday, keeping her informed of what is going on in his life. Currently, his son, Kamo, is in Paris looking for work and is not able to send any money back home. Disappointed, Hamo is forced to sell his
prized wardrobe. Also at the cemetary, is Nina(Lala Sarkissian), a middle-aged women who cannot make ends meet even though she works as a bartender. "Vodka Lemon" is a droll movie made in the tradition of Kusturica and Kaurismaki about an Armerian village that is still struggling about ten years after the fall of the Soviet Union.(The resplendent location filming during winter helps.) Actually, the movie may be a little nostalgiac for the time before Armenia became independent. At least, the bus service is frequent and there is still hope.
November 2, 2006
Walter M.
Super Reviewer
Ode to every parent whose children disappoint. Ode to englishe language marketing in eastern europe and japan. Ode to snow. Ode to Vodka, the good stuff. Ode to, well, how life totally sucks if your live in a cold Eastern European country. Hit the bottle and try not to turn yellow (stay away from the Russian
stuff).
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