WFC Nepal: Himalaya – l’enfance d’un chef

This is a very pretty film, but it’s kitch. And I see now that the director is French, which makes sense, because it’s in the tradition of Jean Auel: So much melodrama. In every scene where the wide-eyed perfectly tousled-haired children appear I can’t help imagining a crack squad of French hairdressers standing just outside the frame with hairbrushes and cans of Elnett at the ready.

But it sure is pretty. And I like the actors.

Himalaya. Eric Valli. 1999. Nepal.

1st Cocktail

  • watermelon
  • sugar
  • lime juice
  • saffron infused gin

Muddle chunks of watermelon with sugar and lime juice. Add gin to taste. Shake with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass.

This post is part of the World of Films and Cocktails series. Explore the map.

WFC Monaco: Kleinhoff Hotell

This DVD was letterboxed, so the resolution is pretty pathetic. And the transfer from the film isn’t wobbly: The sound goes warbly all the time. So not the best viewing experience.

This is a good old-fashioned erotic thriller. Like they used to make in the 70s. Lots of intrigue and voyeurism and great hair-dos.

I like it, but it kinda meanders after a while.

I guess this film is more Italian than Monacan. Monococan? Whatever.

Kleinhoff Hotell. Carlo Lizzani. 1977. Monaco.

Le Purple

  • 5 parts white rum
  • 2 parts cranberry juice
  • 1 part vanilla syrup
  • 1 part lime juice
  • some raspberries
  • a dash of sugar
  • some sprigs of thyme

Muddle some thyme in a cocktail shaker with some raspberries and sugar. Add the rest of the ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain into a Martini glass. Decorate with a sprig of thyme and a raspberry.

This post is part of the World of Films and Cocktails series. Explore the map.

WFC Nicaragua: La Yuma

What a charming film.

I love the actors (especially La Yuma herself), but it’s all so … surprising. Everything just gels, and you get a very entertaining film.

It’s a feelgood comedy from the barrios.

La Yuma. Florence Jaugey. 2009. Nicaragua.

The Macuá

  • 1 part lemon juice
  • 2 parts guava juice
  • 3 parts Flor de Caña 4-Year-Old Rum
  • 1 part simple syrup

Shake vigorously with ice and strain into an ice-filled glas.s Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

This post is part of the World of Films and Cocktails series. Explore the map.

WFC Saint Lucia: Soucouyant

Another Youtube short.

It’s a horror movie shot in a single location with a single actor (who is rather good, I think). It’s interesting (especially in the editing) and it’s more than a bit scary. But just when you think the movie is going to, like, start, it ends. This should have been much longer.

And this is the first film in this blog series that doesn’t seem to have an IMDB entry. There’s this film, but it’s a different short film.

Or… did I watch the wrong film? Uhm… Oh, I did!

Gah.

Soucouyant. Lia Gajhadar. 2015. Saint Lucia.

Banana Blues

  • 5 parts rum
  • 2 parts creme de banane
  • 1 part blue curacao

Directions: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a slice of banana.

This post is part of the World of Films and Cocktails series. Explore the map.

WFC Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Voodoo Man

Another movie found on Youtube. This one is pretty funny, but the amusing script and charming actors are let down by flaccid editing: The film feels like it wants to move faster than it does.

And fortunately they only ran the blurring filter on the first flashback scene.

Voodoo Man. Fabian Guerra. 2014. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

St. Vincent Cocktail

  • 2 parts Galliano
  • 3 parts white rum
  • 2 parts gin
  • a dash of Grenadine

Shake with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass.

This post is part of the World of Films and Cocktails series. Explore the map.