Petelinji zajtrk

Rooster's Breakfast is a love story but more interesting as the picture of a time and place, of old guys sitting and drinking and playing cards in the courtyard of a pretty Slovenian house and thinking about the past. The movie takes place only a decade ago (1998), but since then Slovenia has joined the European Union, changed currencies and become increasingly more prosperous. The small town, with its typically Austrian-influenced homes and pretty countryside, recalls a time when the aging folks made their own booze and remembered Tito with fond memories.

One of the central characters -- an old car mechanic -- is charming for his innocence and good heart. His acting is the high point of the movie and probably the best reason to see it.

Much was made in Slovenia of the presence of a well-known singer -- but I had never heard of her, having no background in Balkan pop culture.

This is a comedy that ends a little too neatly. Wth a slightly different plot twist it would be a poignant tragedy. That it is a comedy says something about where Slovenia thinks it is going today. Unlike some other parts of middle or eastern Europe -- Ukraine leaps to mind -- Slovenia is choosing to look ahead not back on the death of WWII. The future is represented by the clean-cut young mechanic who has a risky love affair with a married woman.

How to make that come out right? How can that be a comedy? See the movie.