Vodka Lemon

Released Oct 8, 2004

1h 30m

Comedy

Drama

List

93%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Hamo (Romen Avinian) lives in a small village in rural Armenia after the fall of the Soviet Union. As the village struggles to find its identity in the post-Soviet world, Hamo grieves for his wife, taking the bus to the cemetery every day to visit her grave. One day he meets Nina (Lala Sarkissian), a poor bar owner, who is at the cemetery visiting the resting place of her husband. Hamo and Nina gradually build a relationship founded on commiseration.

Critics Consensus

Vodka Lemon is a bleak and darkly funny comedy, just like its town and people.

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

This is frostbitten Fellini -- a film that finds fresh beauty and contentment in the wake of centuries of conquering armies.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 3, 2005

Full Review

Jonathan Curiel

San Francisco Chronicle

Director Hiner Saleem has created a magical movie that veers, even within scenes, from love story to tragedy to comic relief.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 11, 2005

Full Review

Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Saleem nourishes his tale of the widower Hamo and widow Nina with a greening bud of romance. And he has wit and warmth to spare for all the movie's denizens.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 7, 2005

Full Review

Kam Williams

Upstage Magazine

Worthwhile for the cinematography alone, which is nothing short of inspired, such as the love scene shot through the pale pattern of a lace curtain, which dissolves almost imperceptibly into the whiteout of a steady blizzard.

Rated: 4/4

May 25, 2007

Full Review

Rex Roberts

Film Journal International

An appealing film, a window onto a part of the world passed over by history.

Feb 22, 2007

Full Review

Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

The film ends on a surreal image of such remarkable whimsy and good cheer that it will keep you warm for a while after the credits roll.

Rated: 3/4

May 12, 2005

Full Review

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Audience Member

(***): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] Darkly funny. Worth a look.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Painfully slow and hardly any dialogue, found it hard to watch.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Cold, poverty and disappointment. But happiness is out there for everyone, we just have to take our chances. And vodka can always help.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought this movie tried to be thoughtful but instead it seemed to drag on with little interest.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautiful movie that allows space for the raw forces of human nature.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I couldn't find the root of the story but it was cute, and I loved the scenery.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

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Hiner Saleem

Director

Romen Avinian

Hamo

Lala Sarkissian

Nina

Ivan Franek

Dilovan

Armen Marutyan

Romik

Astrik Avaguian

Avin

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Synopsis

Hamo (Romen Avinian) lives in a small village in rural Armenia after the fall of the Soviet Union. As the village struggles to find its identity in the post-Soviet world, Hamo grieves for his wife, taking the bus to the cemetery every day to visit her grave. One day he meets Nina (Lala Sarkissian), a poor bar owner, who is at the cemetery visiting the resting place of her husband. Hamo and Nina gradually build a relationship founded on commiseration.

Director: Hiner Saleem
Producer: Fabrice Guez
Screenwriter: Hiner Saleem
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Armenian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 2004, Original
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.8K
Runtime: 1h 30m