
The protagonist of Georgian director Levan Koguashvili's film is Kakhi, a former wrestling champion. His family has always been the most important thing to him, along with his career as an athlete. When he finds out that his son, who’s living in Brooklyn, is in serious trouble, Kakhi has no hesitation to go and help him — it’s his responsibility as a father. He heads out on the long journey to Brighton Beach, a neighborhood also known as Little Odessa because of its unique character. Its population is mostly made up of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, which creates a strong cultural enclave in middle of a city that epitomizes the American dream. This place, where people’s nostalgia for their homeland goes hand in hand with the challenges of everyday living, is another main character of the film. This melancholic, bittersweet story about family ties and the power of authority was chosen as Georgia's official entry for the Oscars. It captures the imagination with its simplicity, sincerity, and urban realism, beautifully captured by Phedon Papamichael's cinematography.
Levan Koguashvili
Boris Frumin
Phedon Papamichael
Levan Tedaishvili, Giorgi Tabidze, Nadezhda Mikhalkova, Kakhi Kavsadze, Laura Rekhviashvili
Georgia/Bulgaria/USA/Monaco