The Smell of Desire
(HAM HYYAL) ((TURKMENIAN))
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With: Batir Abaev, Akoha Gumadurdieva, Chudajberdi Nijasov, Alexandra Kulkonova, Chari Ishankuliev.
This oddity, set in 1961 in what was then the Turkmen Republic of the Soviet Union, melds sexual comedy with references to ancient legends and gods. The brightly colored hodgepodge could find a slot in fests specializing in Asian fare.
Coca is watching what appears to be an Italian film in a village hall; it's sexy, and he dreams of meeting the leading lady. Instead, he meets a beautiful gypsy woman who suggests a liaison in the woods provided he comes up with the necessary cash. This he manages to get from his unsuspecting father, and he keeps the date; but the girl's husband shows up instead.
This slim story is framed with eerie scenes of legendary characters and animals, filmed in a distinctly different style (hand-held, grainy) from the controlled, richly colored main section of the film. It's unfortunate that the soundtrack features the clumsy device of a Russian narrator who drowns out the voices of the Turkmenian characters; this is a major deterrent.
The Berlin fest catalog listed the film's title as the rather mild "The Fragrance of Wishes." But the more racy "The Smell of Desire" is the subtitled translation of the title as it appears on the version caught.
Camera (color), Alexander Julgashev; editor, Kurban Abdauachmanov; music, Igor Pinchassov; production design, Sapar Mommodov; sound, Jusup Jagmurov.
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