Absinthe

4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
(English Subtitled) The definitive film on history's most notorious drink.
  • Starring: T.A. Breaux, Claude-Alain Bugnon
  • Directed by: Christopher Buddy
  • Runtime: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Release year: 2010
  • Studio: FilmBuff
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Absinthe

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Product Details
Synopsis: (English Subtitled) The definitive film on history's most notorious drink.
Starring: T.A. Breaux, Claude-Alain Bugnon
Supporting actors: Barnaby Conrad III, Pierre-Andre Delachaux
Directed by: Christopher Buddy
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 1 hour 10 minutes
Captions and Subtitles: Details
Release year: 2010
Studio: FilmBuff
ASIN: B004MPI9CA
Rights & Requirements
Rental rights: 3 day viewing period. Details
Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)

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Theatrical Release Information
  • US Theatrical Release Date: January 01, 2011
  • Production Company: Orsonami Films
  • Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA | New York City, New York, USA | Paris, France | Switzerland


Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
(9)
4.4 out of 5 stars
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After I finished the film I felt like I had watched more of a movie than a documentary. J. Blackwell  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
This is a fascinating look at the strange and interesting world of Absinthe. gitfiddle jim  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Some cool visuals too. V. Anthony Boreland  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Documentary! February 16, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video
This is a fascinating look at the strange and interesting world of Absinthe. Although I can't stand the taste of the stuff, the history of this liqueur, from its ubiquity in France to its being made illegal to its recent revival, is told here in a dynamic and captivating way. Lots of vintage footage, photographs, paintings, etc. and some great talking heads. Basically, a superb documentary - entertaining and informative. Highly recommended.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this February 22, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video
I have been interested in this subject since long before the recent US legalization, and have generally been disappointed by absinthe's portrayal in the media. It seems that most people want to make absinthe out to be something it is not, while others simply don't have their facts straight. This documentary film is the first time I've seen a truly accurate account of absinthe. While this is pretty much a straightforward PBS style documentary, I found it very entertaining, and for me, the pace moved along nicely. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about absinthe.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Makes Me Want to Drink Absinthe! April 16, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase
A good documentary for anyone who is interested in French post-impressionist culture, cocktails, or just an in depth look of a really cool topic. I am a huge documentary buff and as all documentaries are it was informative. What made this one stand out was the integration of all of the artistic and cultural elements surrounding the mysterious drink. It was definitely not as cut and dry as other documentaries I have seen with some great visual effects, still photos, and entertaining interviews. After I finished the film I felt like I had watched more of a movie than a documentary.

I definitely have a renewed interest in stocking some absinthe paraphenalia. Having already been an absinthe drinker, I have been shown a thousand ways to drink the stuff and it was nice to get a run down of how it is traditionally produced and drank. There are some great absinthes now being produced here in the US and some are shown in the documentary.

The one thing that was difficult was that the subtitles moved so quickly across the screen. The film is about half English/ half French which is fine but I wish the subtitles moved a little slower but I could be just a slow reader. Other than that, it was really interesting and a great way to get the comprehensive history and culture surrounding "La Fe Verte"!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Cool Doc! February 21, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video
Absinthe was always this mysterious elixir to me. Once I saw the documentary all of my questions were answered! I've never tried it but now I'm definitely interested. Story is told very well and there are some great commentators who really get to the bottom of the myths and realities surrounding the drink. Some cool visuals too. Definitely recommended if you are thinking about trying absinthe or are just interested in learning more about it. Kudos to the director.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars I want to drink absinthe April 4, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video
This documentary is great. It provides a detailed account of a really fascinating time in French history. One thing I didn't expect (although probably should have guessed), is that this film is about half in French with English subtitles. Didn't bother me at all - I watch foreign movies all the time, but subtitled docs might not be for everyone. I would especially recommend this to anyone interested in art history. It focuses a great deal on the impressionist artists like Manet, Vincent Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec et al, and how absinthe affected their paintings and their lives. Very cool subject!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Intriguing March 29, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this documentary and was pleasantly surprised how rich in history it was. I found it engaging and have recommended it to my fellow alcohol enthusiasts.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Professional Drinker March 14, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase
Finally, a documentary that explains everything I've always wanted to know about absinthe. From the beginning (and banning) of absinthe in Switzerland, right up to the legalization of it in America, this film encapsulates the history perfectly. My friend suggested I watch this and I am grateful that she did because I love documentaries and I love alcohol. Win-win. Long live the Green Fairy!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Absinthe and Old Lace July 15, 2011
Format:Amazon Instant Video
"Absinthe" is a fascinating documentary about an herbal concoction that inspired the artists&thinkers of the modern movement. Eduard Manet, Paul Gaugin, Vincent Van Gogh, and Degas drank it down, inspiring their brightest- as well as their bleakest- work. "Absinthe" is a quietly meditative work, showing the harvest of the wormwood, the anise, with the music of Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth as well as other folk/indie musicians.

"Absinthe" goes into the drink's enigmatic origins, whether it was first made in France or Switzerland, whether a female herbalist conjured it up. Absinthe was considered an early hallucinogen. It was called the Green Fairy. The distillers of absinthe describe their work;you see the lush fields of Switzerland. The wormwood shows itself to be a deceitful herb-it looks soft, smells sweet... and its taste is bitter. No wonder that sugar is an essential part of the absinthe ritual.

"Absinthe" was once prohibited. Now that it's been legalized, it brings food for thought, sort of like the 4/20 movement to legalize cannabis. Drink in "Absinthe"!
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