Absurdistan is an allegorically rich comedy care of witty German director Veit Helmer and filmed in the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the tiny titular land, a war of the sexes break out when the local aqueduct ceases to work, and the men are too lazy to fix it. The women declare a strike--no water, no sex--and two childhood sweethearts find themselves feuding instead of consummating their long-standing love. Looks like it's up to the kids to fix the water pipe and get everybody laid. Helmer directs this charming, mostly dialogue-free little film with childlike wonder, with shades of Jeunet in his use of fanciful contraptions, like a gondola on pulleys flying over the town. more ›

25 days, over 160,000 attendees, 198 narrative films, 60 documentaries, 15 archival films, 4 mystery screenings, and 141 shorts later, the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival is finally over. Seattlest, for one, is relieved. Don't get us wrong: we love the festival life. But after nearly a month of showing up early to films, saving seats for friends, and contending with irascible movie-goers, we are ready for a break from the cinema. See you next year, SIFF! more ›