Absurdistan (2008)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Veit Helmer

Writers:

Zaza Buadze (writer)
Veit Helmer (writer)

Release Date:

20 March 2008 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

An allegorical comedy centered on two childhood sweethearts who seem destined for one another until the women of their isolated village...

Plot Keywords:

Childhood Sweetheart | Water Shortage | Isolated Place | One Word Title

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Kristyna Malérová	...	Aya
Max Mauff	...	Temelko (as Maximilian Mauff)
Nino Chkheidze	...	Grandmother
Ivane Ivantbelidze	...	Shooting Gallery Guy
Ani Amiridze	...	Shooting Gallery Guy's Daughter
Ilko Stefanovski	...	Guri - Temelko's Father
Assun Planas	...	Temelko's Mother
Otto Kuhnle	...	Barber
Hijran Nasirova	...	Barber's Wife
Hendrik Arnst	...	Landlord
Olga Nefjodova	...	Landlord's Wife
Adalet Zyadhanov	...	Policeman
Matanat Atakishiyeva	...	Policeman's Wife
Azelarab Kaghat	...	Baker
Michaela Bandi	...	Baker's Wife

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Germany:12 | Czech Republic:12

Filming Locations:

Lahic, Azerbaijan

Company:

Veit Helmer Filmproduktion

You'll come out smiling - and thinking.

This is a delightful film, and left me with a smile on my face that lasted quite some time. Like all good comedy, it must not be taken too seriously, though it deals with some very serious issues indeed. Even if the film was made in Azerbaijan, the story is certainly not 'about' a Muslim country as such, of whatever style. One of the couples does have a large picture of a mosque above the marital bed, but some scenes are in what appears to be a Christian church, albeit devoid of overt symbols, and, in one, some of the women cross themselves with holy water. But these references to religion are incidental: the film is not to be interpreted in realistic terms. It is allegorical and is simply about people, no matter where they live. A jaunty score nicely reinforces the comedic mood.