Lime & Vinegar

Lime & Vinegar is a film where basically nothing happens... and I am totally ok with that! The plot follows two maids who are working their first shift together. That's it, seriously! It takes realism to the level of films like In Vanda's Room and Jeanne Dielman, almost to the point that you feel like you are becoming a part of the film itself and are physically in the house spending time with the characters. The style is pseudo-documentary and the dialogue and interactions are very realistic. It is introspective, observational, and meditative. Films should not need to have violence or death to be interesting. Everyday lives are just as interesting in my opinion. It is not a film for everyone, but no film that pushes boundaries is.

The movie opens with Daniela (Dalma Llinas) and Lorena (Yiseth Brendlnger) entering a house with cleaning supplies. They were born Latin America, left their loved ones behind to immigrate to the United States, and now find themselves cleaning houses. They're put together on Lorena's first day of work and Daniela immediately tries to ruin her day. She traps her in a cupboard and blames her for everything. It is slowly revealed that Daniela's own insecurities and unresolved childhood trauma have led her to take things out on her new coworker. This would be a great theater play. The style is doing the next best thing. It is gritty, raw and powerful. The rawness pushes the authenticity of the characters and the emotions that the director is trying to convey. The audience may well forget they are watching a movie. Dalma Llinas is wonderfully convincing and Yiseth Brendlinger is convincingly naïve. Their characters are isolated. This is the essence of the movie.

I love the atmosphere they created in this movie, the whole story has such a feel to it. This is one of those movies where you think about it years later and smile but maybe you don't even remember the story or what happened you just remember how it made you feel. This movie made me laugh and smile and I was very happy at the end how it all turned out. It is one of those movies that has a very nice feeling to it and creates its own unique atmosphere and environment.

The story is very slow to unfold and there is not much of a story in the traditional sense. Not the kind most audiences are used to seeing, but it is not about that. It is about a feeling and taking a look into the world of these characters. Personally I feel like I could watch these women cleaning all day long.

I did not know anything about it before, so I just sat down and watched. After 10 minutes I was totally engaged and forgot I was watching a movie, I became fully involved in the lives of the characters. It helped that the acting was very good. It is about two women who work their day jobs cleaning houses in the United States, but they are from a different country and have their own opinions about Americans. This gentle indie film does not avoid the tougher issues, exploring themes of racial differences and job dissatisfaction through the lens of a character drama. From the opening scene to the end credits, each shot could be a photograph telling its own story. And every line feels 100% genuine you believe everything the characters say, the drama never feels forced. It is full of raw emotion and there is some sadness. It was... hypnotic. What a beautiful film!

Lime and Vinegar is a drama movie directed and co-written by Evan Snyder, with Dalma Llinas, Yiseth Brendlinger, Starring Dalma Llinas, Yiseth Brendlinger Corey Angelus, and Evan Beardsley.

The film tells the story of two South American immigrants, Daniela and Lorena. Daniela is from Colombia, and Lorena is from Venezuela. Daniela has been cleaning houses for a while, and one day, she teams up with newly hired Lorena to do household work for their company. Daniela is more mature and serious, taking her work seriously and with honesty, while Lorena is still trying to figure out what to do. They both got into a journey of self-discovery, proving that sometimes, life's messes can't be cleaned without a little creativity. To find out more you need to watch the movie.

The film's strength lies in its performances. Dalma Llinas and Yiseth Brendlinger bring a raw authenticity to their roles, capturing the vulnerability and strength of immigrants with their own ambitions and fears. Dalma shows her subtle side with her serious role, depicting her struggle and adaptation to the city, while Yiseth's character is innocent and curious. The supporting cast, particularly the boyfriend and his friends played by Corey Angelus and Evan Beardsley, deliver fair performances in their scenes.

Director Evan Snyder is known for his rebellious approach to storytelling. With Lime and Vinegar, he presents the struggles of immigrants and how they make a life in the USA. His films stand out for their improvised performances,capturing raw, authentic moments that challenge conventional cinema. Snyder's dedication to slow cinema is remarkable.

Lime and Vinegar is not without flaws. The slow pace occasionally makes the movie feel overdeveloped, but slow cinema is the right canvas for this overlooked tale. The sound could be better. However, the film's emotional core remains powerful.

Recently, Lime and Vinegar won Best Drama Feature Film at the Five Continents International Film Festival 2024 and was an official selection of the Echelon Studios International Film Festival. Dalma Llinas was selected in the Best Actress category at the Roshani International Film Festival.

Lime and Vinegar is a poignant film that explores the struggles and triumphs of two young immigrant women. It is a journey of self-discovery, proving that sometimes life's messes can't be cleaned without a little creativity. It's a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider with big ambitions and dreams and a reminder of the strength found in community and self-belief.

It is a must-watch for anyone interested in immigration stories, self-discovery, fear, struggle, and how to overcome them with creativity.