Whisky

2004 comedy

Rating: 16/20

Plot: A tired guy who owns a sock factory in Uruguay finds out that his brother, who also owns a sock factory in Brazil, is coming to visit. The siblings' relationship isn't a good one. The host brother convinces his co-worker to pose as his wife during his brother's stay. Their wheels spin.

Whisky's dry, one of those so-dry-that-you-might-miss-that-it's-even-a-comedy comedies, not unlike a Jarmusch or Kaurismaki with its mostly-static camera, deadpan delivery, and characters almost too quiet to be noticed. It's so subtle that it hurts. Unlike Kaurismaki, however, this isn't as, well, happy. There's a little more despair with these characters. The three actors who play them are terrifically subdued, embodying destitution, bringing the characters to the closest they'll ever get to life. To be completely honest, this might have less humor than any other movie calling itself a comedy that I've seen. It's one of those Shane comedies. A sock's full of poignant moments in this and several scenes that ended ambiguously, making this one of those (again, Shane-type flicks) that can be seen from different directions. The title, by the way, refers to what people from South America say before they get their pictures taken. Like "cheese" in America. I've never really thought about it, but I guess anything with a long e sound would work there.