This was the first modern Georgian movie I didn't hate. As a matter of fact, I actually kind of enjoyed it. I am the biggest hater of Georgian prison movies, but this one is somehow different. It was a nice experience watching the main character's internal struggle between being a criminal and a good kid who wants to play rugby. I turned it on as a sort of background noise to pass time but got hooked instantly. I was expecting another boring social commentary movie focusing on low wages and poor living conditions in Georgia but instead got something actually decent. The Aluda Qetelauri scene was brilliant. It’s a great depiction of how the poem’s message isn’t lost, whether it’s taught in a classroom or told in a prison cell using slang.
Sure, this movie had a lot of problems, visually and sound-wise speaking. Some scenes felt unnatural, and in many cases the acting was a bit forced (the actor of Nika was excellent, no complaints towards him), but still, compared to the usual standard of post-Soviet Georgian cinema, this one feels like a real step forward. I wish there were a few more rugby scenes though.
This was the first modern Georgian movie I didn't hate. As a matter of fact, I actually kind of enjoyed it. I am the biggest hater of Georgian prison movies, but this one is somehow different. It was a nice experience watching the main character's internal struggle between being a criminal and a good kid who wants to play rugby. I turned it on as a sort of background noise to pass time but got hooked instantly. I was expecting another boring social commentary movie focusing on low wages and poor living conditions in Georgia but instead got something actually decent. The Aluda Qetelauri scene was brilliant. It’s a great depiction of how the poem’s message isn’t lost, whether it’s taught in a classroom or told in a prison cell using slang.
Sure, this movie had a lot of problems, visually and sound-wise speaking. Some scenes felt unnatural, and in many cases the acting was a bit forced (the actor of Nika was excellent, no complaints towards him), but still, compared to the usual standard of post-Soviet Georgian cinema, this one feels like a real step forward. I wish there were a few more rugby scenes though.
