Absurdistan (2008)

An allegorical comedy centered on two childhood sweethearts who seem destined for one another until the women of their isolated village, angered by male indifference toward the water ... See full summary »

Director:

Veit Helmer

Writers:

Zaza Buadze, Servet Golbol

Stars:

Max Mauff, Kristýna Podzimková, Nino Chkheidze

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Max Mauff	...	Temelko (as Maximilian Mauff)
Kristýna Podzimková	...	Aya (as Kristýna Malérová)
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 Nefyodova	...	Landlord's Wife
Adalat Ziyadkhanov	...	Policeman (as Adalet Zyadhanov)
Matanat Atakishiyeva	...	Policeman's Wife
Azelarab Kaghat	...	Baker
Michaela Bandi	...	Baker's Wife

Storyline

An allegorical comedy centered on two childhood sweethearts who seem destined for one another until the women of their isolated village, angered by male indifference toward the water shortage, go on a sex strike that threatens the young couple's first night of love.

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Plot Keywords:

sex strike | water shortage | childhood sweetheart | lingerie slip | strike | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

20 March 2008 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Absurdistán

Filming Locations:

Azerbaijan

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,441, 8 February 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$39,078, 12 June 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Veit Helmer Filmproduktion,Südwestrundfunk (SWR),Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

War
Written by Shigeru Umebayashi

User Reviews

The Key Word Here Is Absurd (and I would not want it any other way)

German director/writer,Veit Helmer's films are an acquired taste (much like Canada's Guy Maddin). His style of directing seems to lean toward the mainly visual (there is little to no dialog in his films),and in metaphorical terms,has a tendency to (at times)resemble some of the films of Czech film makers,Jiri Menzil,etc. In this gentle fable,'Absurdistan',the story takes place in the fictional village of Absurdistan,somewhere in a part of Russia that seems to have been forgotten by time (it's not supposed to be listed on any map),but still exists,none the less. Aya & Temelko are two young people who have been in love with one another since childhood. Aya's fortune telling grandmother predicts that the two should get together when two star signs merge. Sound simple enough? There is a problem in the village with the water supply (and the lazy,good for nothing men,who are content with just hanging out in the local teahouse all day while their women do all the work,including the work projects that the men start,but never seem to finish). When things get downright dire,what with the nearly total lack of water,the women stage a sex strike ultimatum on the men. It's up to Temelko to try & fix the water problem, so he can be with his beloved Aya forever. Veit Helmer directs & co-writes the screenplay (with the assistance of Zaza Buadze,Gordan Mihic & Ahmet Golbol). The cinematography by George Beridze makes nice use of what appears to be a arid,near desert environment. The cast is made up of mainly Russian actors who do their job well. If you enjoyed Helmer's film, 'Tuvalu' from a few years back, this will be another feather in your conical cap. Spoken (what little on screen dialog,outside of the narrative structure)in Russian with English subtitles. No MPAA rating,but contains flashes of nudity & sexual content.