WHISKY

Uruguay, 2004, 95 minutes, Colour.
Andres Pazos, Mirella Pascual, Jorge Bolani.
Directed by Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll.

Why would a rare Uruguayan film claim ‘Whisky’ as a title? Well, it seems to be the equivalent of ‘cheese’ for Uruguayans when they are asked to smile for a photo. Not that there are many smiles on the characters in the film - although the audience will be smiling quite a lot. Two young writer-directors have given us the portrait of two very lonely people, locked in the daily repetitions of their factory routines. We smile at the day after day rituals but, actually, they are very sad. Jacobo is a 60 year old sock manufacturer. Marta is his taken-for-granted loyal assistant (aged 48). She, at least, does have a little joy in her life as she goes to the movies each evening.

When Jacobo’s brother comes to Montevideo from Brazil for a memorial service for their mother and brings some of his liveliness and exuberance, Jacobo dowses almost everything with glum cold water while Marta (whom he has employed to pose as his wife for the weekend) becomes more animated in his presence. Will this visit make any change in their drab lives?

Nicely done and a chance to see a film from Uruguay.

1. The awards for the film? Popular success? A rare film from Uruguay?

2. The Montevideo settings, the streets and the shop, the beach resort, the sea? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score and mood?

3. The title, the word to say for smiling when a photo is taken? The forces smiles for the photo? The irony of the title?

4. The opening, Marta waiting for Jacobo to open the shop, looking at the watch, the opening, the beginnings of the routines in starting the factory, the making of the socks? The repetition for other days? The film ending with the same repetition? The effect of this repetition and illustration of character?

5. Jacobo, age, experience, the factory, relying on Marta, fixing the blinds, drinking the coffee? The plan for his mother’s gravestone? His brother coming, deciding to pose as married to Marta? Going shopping, the discounts, the photo? His going to the airport, receiving his brother? Introducing Marta? At the house, the laconic conversation? His sour attitude, ironic comments and behaviour? The ceremony, the aftermath? Going to the sea, the meals, the time together? His not enjoying it? Seeing his brother off? The return to the same old things – no change?

6. Marta, her age, devotion, the same routines, supervising the women, smoking? Her agreeing to the plan? Her personal life, going home, going to the movies? Cleaning up the very dirty house, making it less ramshackle? Her posing as the wife? Her interest in the brother, responding to his jokes, the conversations? Her return to the routine – but the enjoyment of the experience with the brother?

7. The brother, his long absence, his factory, bringing gifts of socks, their being much more colourful than Jacobo’s? the ceremony? His enjoying the company, trying to brighten things up? The detail of life in the house, the holiday? His return?

8. A droll perception of human nature and its changes – and the unwillingness to change and to be stuck in routine?