Whisky

Talented Uruguayan filmmakers Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll's Whisky is a minimalist droll comedy (think Aki Kaurismäki or Jim Jarmusch) in which Jacobo (Andrés Pazos), a 60-something owner of a small, somewhat dilapidated sock factory, pretends to be married to his longtime manager/assistant Marta (Mirella Pascual) when his estranged wealthy brother Herman (Jorge Bolani) visits from Brazil. The film boasts no big, dramatic confrontation to allow for spleen-venting soliloquies; instead, it is comprised of a symphony of small gestures, throwaway glances, brief exchanges, and silences that are more telling than pages of dialogue. Observant viewers will find a wealth of clues to piece together the relationships onscreen: the empty wheelchair and dust-covered oxygen tank in Jacobo's apartment, Marta's odd combination of respect for Jacobo's authority (she always says “excuse me” when entering his office) and her take-charge solutions to little problems (she volunteers to call a repairman to fix a broken window shade), Herman's tactless nature (the price tag is left on a gift he gives Jacobo), and the seemingly strong fraternal bonds that enable the brothers to share interests (watching a soccer match, playing air hockey) without exchanging more than a few sentences. While this less-is-more approach may be frustrating for some, Whisky wisely does not give away too much too soon, and patient viewers will be rewarded. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an interview with filmmakers Pablo Stoll and Juan Pablo Rebella, a photo gallery, a DVD-ROM-accessible PDF discussion guide, and trailers. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a foreign winner.] (P. Hall)