This is a difficult film to watch while trying to get to the end of Dry January. Twenty-four hours in the life of Geoffrey Firmin, who drinks throughout the whole performance. Tequila, mescal, whisky, gin tonic, he even drinks his Eau de Cologne at one point. He is assisted through this day by his wife Yvonne, who has just come back from a year away, where she divorced her husband, and Geoffrey’s half-brother Hugh. They alternate between drinking with him and trying to get him sober. All of this happens on the Day of the Dead in a city in Mexico. I must say that Geoffrey, who is most of the time close to delirium tremens, is amusing, even though sad from a year alone and confused by his wife’s return.
“- Hugh Firmin: Geoff, what possess you ?
– Geoffrey Firmin: Sobriety, I’m afraid. Too much moderation. I need drink desperately to get my balance back.”