Director: Keko Chelidze, Producer: Elene Margvelashvili, Production: Parachute Films, Language: Georgian, Georgia 2020, 67′, Rights: World (Except Georgia)
A once-popular bass player in Tbilisi is now jobless, joyless and crammed into a shoebox-sized one-room apartment with his elderly mother, leaving little space for independence or optimism in this absurd, intimate slice of ex-Soviet life.
Formerly a popular musician in Georgia, Levan (45) lives in a 14 m2 apartment with his mother Lamara (84) in the suburb of Tbilisi. Forgotten by everyone, Levan seems to have no luck at finding a job or a girlfriend. But despite his misfortunes, Levan is an optimist. He doesn’t fall into despair, tries to overcome his routine problems and achieve success. As for Lamara, her main concerns are that her son is well-fed, dressed appropriately, but most importantly – not affectionate with a woman unworthy of his love.
Review
“Codependent and cohabitating, this expertly observed mother-son chronicle serves up not only an astute look at one family’s dysfunction but an intimately absurd slice of post-Soviet life.”
Myrocia Watamaniuk Hot Docs
Festivals
2020 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival, Canada (World Premiere)
2020 CineDOC Tbilisi International Documentary Film Festival, Georgia (National Premiere, Special Jury Prize)
2020 FIDBA International Documentary Film Festival, Argentina (International Competition)
2020 Golden Apricot International Film Festival, Armenia (International Competition)
2020 In-Edit International Music Documentary Film Festival Barcelona, Spain (International Competition)
2020 Festival de Cine Al Este Colombia (Competition Al Este, Honourable Jury Mention)
2020 Seoul International Architecture Film Festival, Korea (Official Selection)
2020 Brussels Independent Film Festival, Belgium (Official Selection, postponed)
2021 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, Scotland (International Competition)
2021 Festival de Cine Al Este Peru (Competition Al Este, Honourable Jury Mention)
2021 Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival, Belgium (Official Selection, Best Artist Documentary Film 2021)
2021 Arc Film Festival (Germany, Official Selection)