Since Otar Left
Encyclopedia
Since Otar Left is a 2003
film
by director Julie Bertuccelli, based around three Georgian
women living in modern-day Tbilisi
. It focuses on the attempts of a mother and daughter, Marina (Nino Khomasuridze) and Ada (Dinara Drukarova
), to hide the news of their brother's death from Marina's elderly mother, Eka (Esther Gorintin). The film was widely well-received, and won the coveted Critics' Week Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
.
At the opening of the film, the audience learns that Otar Gogebashvili (an unseen character
), a doctor by profession because of the difficult economic situation in newly independent Georgia has not long before moved to France
, in order to work illegally and support his family back in Georgia. Eka eagerly awaits Otar's regular phone calls and the money he sends home from France. The difference between the generations is apparent: Eka loves French culture, speaks perfect French but remains a Stalinist
, even in 2002, whereas Ada is quite Westernised, and longs to follow her uncle's path and move to the West. Marina has university degree but due to the high unemployment in Post Soviet Georgia sells heilrooms at the market.
Their life then changes drastically when Marina fields a call from Otar's friend, Niko (Duta Skhirtladze), who had accompanied him to France. Niko bears bad news: Otar has been killed in an industrial accident. Eka is elderly and fragile, and Marina and Ada both agree that the shock of the death of her beloved son could kill her. In a similar manner to the German
film Good Bye Lenin!
, which was released in the same year, the pair decide to conceal Otar's death from Eka.
In order to create the charade, Ada forges letters from Otar. Eka grows worried about the lack of phone calls and the lack of money in the letters (as Ada and Marina are in no position to attach any), but the pair include excuses into the letters, and initially appease Eka's worries. Several other complications arise, but the pair deal with them in turn, and Eka remains unaware of Otar's death.
After some time, Ada grows reluctant to continue the charade, as she feels that lying to her grandmother is taking its toll. Ada and Marina discuss possibly telling Eka the truth, when instead the eccentric Eka decides that she wants to visit Otar in France. Before the pair can persuade her otherwise, she sells her library with unique French books collected by the generations to raise the money, and purchases plane tickets for all three of them. Unable to persuade Eka not to fly to France, Ada and Marina accompany her along.
The story resumes in France, where Eka searches for any sign of her son. After several attempts, she finally locates the apartment where he lived, only to be finally told the truth by his neighbours. Eka breaks down with the initial shock, but soon recovers and returns to meet Ada and Marina, as they are due to return to Georgia. In a reversal of roles, and to the bemusement of the two younger women, Eka decides that it would hurt them to know of Otar's death, and pretends that he has gone to America without telling them.
Not long after, they leave for the airport
. Upon reaching the airport, Ada tells Eka and Marina to go on ahead while she purchases a magazine. While the older women pass through departure gates, Ada remains behind. It thus becomes clear that Ada has no intention of returning to Tbilisi, and intends to try and make a life for herself in France. The film ends with their tearful goodbye through the windows of the departure gates.
2003 in film
The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
by director Julie Bertuccelli, based around three Georgian
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
women living in modern-day Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. It focuses on the attempts of a mother and daughter, Marina (Nino Khomasuridze) and Ada (Dinara Drukarova
Dinara Drukarova
Dinara Drukarova is a Russian actress.She was born in St. Petersburg, and still lives there half the year, spending the other half in France, where she tends to pursue most of her film roles...
), to hide the news of their brother's death from Marina's elderly mother, Eka (Esther Gorintin). The film was widely well-received, and won the coveted Critics' Week Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Plot
The three women all live in the same run-down apartment in one of Tbilisi's oldest neighborhood. They bear many of the realities of life in modern Georgia, such as frequent power blackouts and dilapidated infrastructure. Amidst this, Eka remains the matriarch of the family. She retains an often fractious relationship with her daughter, Marina, but is extremely close to her granddaughter, Ada. However, it is her beloved son, Otar, that she is most attached to.At the opening of the film, the audience learns that Otar Gogebashvili (an unseen character
Unseen character
In fiction, an unseen character is a character that is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in...
), a doctor by profession because of the difficult economic situation in newly independent Georgia has not long before moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in order to work illegally and support his family back in Georgia. Eka eagerly awaits Otar's regular phone calls and the money he sends home from France. The difference between the generations is apparent: Eka loves French culture, speaks perfect French but remains a Stalinist
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
, even in 2002, whereas Ada is quite Westernised, and longs to follow her uncle's path and move to the West. Marina has university degree but due to the high unemployment in Post Soviet Georgia sells heilrooms at the market.
Their life then changes drastically when Marina fields a call from Otar's friend, Niko (Duta Skhirtladze), who had accompanied him to France. Niko bears bad news: Otar has been killed in an industrial accident. Eka is elderly and fragile, and Marina and Ada both agree that the shock of the death of her beloved son could kill her. In a similar manner to the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
film Good Bye Lenin!
Good Bye Lenin!
Good Bye, Lenin! is a 2003 German tragicomedy film, released internationally in 2003. Directed by Wolfgang Becker, the cast includes Daniel Brühl, Katrin Saß, Chulpan Khamatova, and Maria Simon...
, which was released in the same year, the pair decide to conceal Otar's death from Eka.
In order to create the charade, Ada forges letters from Otar. Eka grows worried about the lack of phone calls and the lack of money in the letters (as Ada and Marina are in no position to attach any), but the pair include excuses into the letters, and initially appease Eka's worries. Several other complications arise, but the pair deal with them in turn, and Eka remains unaware of Otar's death.
After some time, Ada grows reluctant to continue the charade, as she feels that lying to her grandmother is taking its toll. Ada and Marina discuss possibly telling Eka the truth, when instead the eccentric Eka decides that she wants to visit Otar in France. Before the pair can persuade her otherwise, she sells her library with unique French books collected by the generations to raise the money, and purchases plane tickets for all three of them. Unable to persuade Eka not to fly to France, Ada and Marina accompany her along.
The story resumes in France, where Eka searches for any sign of her son. After several attempts, she finally locates the apartment where he lived, only to be finally told the truth by his neighbours. Eka breaks down with the initial shock, but soon recovers and returns to meet Ada and Marina, as they are due to return to Georgia. In a reversal of roles, and to the bemusement of the two younger women, Eka decides that it would hurt them to know of Otar's death, and pretends that he has gone to America without telling them.
Not long after, they leave for the airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
. Upon reaching the airport, Ada tells Eka and Marina to go on ahead while she purchases a magazine. While the older women pass through departure gates, Ada remains behind. It thus becomes clear that Ada has no intention of returning to Tbilisi, and intends to try and make a life for herself in France. The film ends with their tearful goodbye through the windows of the departure gates.
Cast
- Esther Gorintin (Eka)
- Nino Khomasuridze (Marina)
- Dinara DrukarovaDinara DrukarovaDinara Drukarova is a Russian actress.She was born in St. Petersburg, and still lives there half the year, spending the other half in France, where she tends to pursue most of her film roles...
(Ada) - Temur Kalandadze (Tengiz)
- Rusudan Bolqvadze (Rusiko)
- Sasha Sarishvili (Alexi)
- Duta Skhirtladze (Niko)
Awards and nominations
| Group | Award | Winner/Nominee | Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival Cannes Film Festival The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals... |
Critics Week Grand Prize | Julie Bertuccelli | Yes |
| Grand Golden Rail | |||
| César Awards | Best First Work | Julie Bertuccelli | Yes |
| Best Writing - Original or Adaptation | Julie Bertuccelli Roger Bohbot Bernard Renucci |
No | |
| Most Promising Actress | Dinara Drukarova Dinara Drukarova Dinara Drukarova is a Russian actress.She was born in St. Petersburg, and still lives there half the year, spending the other half in France, where she tends to pursue most of her film roles... |
||
| European Film Awards | Best Director | Julie Bertuccelli | No |