In this film set in the 1970s we follow the story of a family of urbanites who organise a farewell party for their recently conscripted son (as was the norm of time). We see them preparing a feast for friends and and relatives it their villa, a summer home outside of city limits. The concept of the villa and so called villa zone, a zoned area in which citizens of larger cities could engage in recreational activities, some farming and enjoying the clean air, as they say. Many of these villas for the average people were constructed in the 70s and 80s, following the fast urbanization of the country and voluntary migration from villages to larger industrial towns and cities. Before the 70s, villas would be associated with the elite, given that the population was largely engaged in agriculture and lived in smaller communities, closer to nature.
In this contemporary critique of the villa zone phenomenon we see some of its shortcomings. The inhabitants of the villas are portrayed as very material people who constantly compare themselves with their peers and neighbours in some form of rivalry. In the beginning of the film we see one of the characters hastily dumping a load of paving stones in a manner implying that he acquired them by appropriation from his workplace. We can hear others commenting on different aspects of the building and drawing comparison with their own villas. The focus of the event is the generous table which undoubtedly took a great deal of preparation and funds.
The parents of the young conscripted man nervously wait for their son to arrive to the event and wish to introduce him to a girl from a family they deem suitable for creating his future connections. He however has already married a girl he loves without his parents knowing.
The picture shows the absurdity of this way of living, the vain materialistic values in a society that has changed its structure and traditional way of life rather recently. It questions the obsession with social status and places emphasis on things that do matter - such as love.
In this contemporary critique of the villa zone phenomenon we see some of its shortcomings. The inhabitants of the villas are portrayed as very material people who constantly compare themselves with their peers and neighbours in some form of rivalry. In the beginning of the film we see one of the characters hastily dumping a load of paving stones in a manner implying that he acquired them by appropriation from his workplace. We can hear others commenting on different aspects of the building and drawing comparison with their own villas. The focus of the event is the generous table which undoubtedly took a great deal of preparation and funds.
The parents of the young conscripted man nervously wait for their son to arrive to the event and wish to introduce him to a girl from a family they deem suitable for creating his future connections. He however has already married a girl he loves without his parents knowing.
The picture shows the absurdity of this way of living, the vain materialistic values in a society that has changed its structure and traditional way of life rather recently. It questions the obsession with social status and places emphasis on things that do matter - such as love.
