Attenberg

Here's an indication that other countries view their films differently: Attenberg, written and directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari, was Greece's submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. To think that this small, exceedingly quirky film, which values silence as much as it does sound, would be considered the best film from a country is mind-blowing, considering that if it were an American film it would be on the festival circuit and would be lucky to get a release.

Attenberg is about a young woman, played winningly by Ariane Labed. She is mystified by sex, and finds it repulsive. Her friend, a promiscuous bartender, tries to teach her how to French kiss. This is the opening scene, which has the two women basically opening their mouths wide and swallowing each other's tongues. I can imagine all the older, more sedate viewers turning it off right there, but those who stick with it will find themselves drawn into Labed's story.

Her other condition is dealing with her father, who is in chemotherapy, though his death is imminent. The relationship between the two is painted so well and so touchingly that when she can't take discussing his funeral plans--apparently Greece does not allow cremation, and he does not want to become a diet for worms--that we feel her pain.

Labed is a cab driver, and strikes up a relationship with a passenger. She is a virgin, and fears she might be asexual, but gives it a go, and she finds a partner who is willing to take it slow, though he does go crazy when she describes everything she is doing. The film is very frank about sexuality, and Labed gives a naked performance, literally and figuratively.

The film also has its share of quirks, foremost being the non sequiter scenes of Labed and her friend locking arms in dresses of the same pattern, marching as if they were in the Ministry of Silly Walks. I have no idea what this was supposed to mean, but it's not boring.

Oh, and the title? Well, Labed has trouble relating to those of her own species, and seems more at home watching the documentaries by nature film maker David Attenborough. The title is how they pronounce the name in Greece, I guess.