Among my friends in the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film, WHISKY is not a little seen film as it was a Buried Treasure nominee at the 12th annual Awards Ceremony in 2006. But among non-Chlotrudians, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who has heard of, much less seen this little film fromUruguay. And that’s a shame, because it’s quite marvelous.
Jacob is the taciturn and solitary owner of a run-down sock factory, whose successful, younger brother, Hermán, is coming to visit from Brazil for the first time in years for their late mother’s Matzeivah ceremony (at which her tombstone will be unveiled). Jacob asks Marta, his forewoman at the factory, if she will pose as his wife while his brother is in town. With Hermán’s arrival it becomes clear that Jacob resents him for running off and becoming successful, while he cared for their mother in a nursing home rather than focusing on his own career. Yet when Hermán asks Jacobo and Marta to accompany him on a visit to a seaside resort where they spent time as children, Marta is keen to go and Jacobo reluctantly agrees. During the holiday Marta and Herman grow closer. Jacobo remains cold and unemotional towards both the other characters and seems keen for the experience to end.
This charming film is short on dialogue and filled with subtle, black humor. The characters manage to convey quite a bit despite their unexpressive faces and their minimal conversation. Filmmakers Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll crafted an endearing story that yields great rewards if the viewer can manage to stick with it long enough. Sadly, Rebella committed suicide at age 32.