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
Izzularab El-Kaghghat	...	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 | bare chested male | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Aya
Written by Shigeru Umebayashi

User Reviews

Different and Interesting

This feature was filmed in Azerbaijan. This is remarkable since the main theme of the story involves sex, and in a Muslim country, this type of movie is definitely frowned upon. The story surrounds a young couple, Ava and Temelko. They are madly in love and have been told by her fortune-telling grandmother the night they may consummate their relationship. However, before the special night arrives, they run into problems as the lazy men of the town they inhabit have not performed any maintenance on the town's water pipes and they have broken. The women are fed up with having to do without water and go on "strike"...no water, no sex. The movie reminds me a little of "The Gods Must Be Crazy;" silly and slapstick humor along with a little more subtle humor underneath. The performances of Kristyna Malerova and Max Mauff were sympathetic and amusing.

To the reviewer below, I got my "facts" from the director of the film at the screening I attended...I was just repeating what I heard. I took the man (and the others involved in the film who agreed with him) at his word, and I think you are taking this commentary just a tad too seriously.

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

Gross USA:

$39,683

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$113,269

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1