CINEMA
U.S.S.R. 1979. 75 minutes. Black and white.
Murman Dzinorija, Guram Lordkipanidze, Avto Kereselidze, Ketino Kabulija.
Directed by Liana Ellava.
A very attractive Russian film, made in Georgia. The Georgian films are generally much more gentle than their western counterparts - a sense of humanity and comedy. This film, made in black and white and echoing the styles of the early silent film industry, shows the period at the turn of the century in detail and gentility. The hero goes to study in Paris and returns with a camera. He then proceeds to film incidents and people in the area - although with hostility from his own family. He tries to persuade people to invest in the film industry and foretells its successful future. In his attempts to build up his films he finally disappears and the collected material is screened for the public, with great popularity. The film has charm, humanity - and is an interesting look at the origins of a national film industry.
1. An attractive Russian film? The style and light touch from the area of Georgia? Entertainment value, history?
2. The film's communication of love of the cinema? Its black and white stylised photography? Its visual style and elegance? Its presentation of a comedy of manners in the early 20th. century period? The echoing of the techniques and photography of silent film? The importance of the soundtrack?
3. A glimpse of the origins of the Russian film industry? The exhilaration of the Lumiere Brothers and Paris? The possibilities of cinema in Russia? The novelty, curiosity? Public opinion against it? The hero as a man of vision? The details of life that he photographed? The people's response to being photographed, to watching themselves on the screen? The memoirs of a particular period? The collage at the end as a final record of this particular period?
4. Film history - the Russian origins? The comparison with other European countries? Film as entertainment, seen at carnivals, magic lantern shows? Audience response?
5. The characterisation of the hero Sosiko - the elegant dance and singing with his fiancee at the opening? His place in his parents' home? Russian aristocracy? The study in Paris and the farewells? Ills return home, expectations of him? The exhilaration with the camera? His wandering through the streets and photographing what he saw - the old man carrying the piano and his death, a stage performance, the flight of the balloon, his fiancee and her riding the bicycle? The details of the workers and the close-ups of their faces etc.? His exhilaration with what he was doing? His young assistant and their working together? The Prince and his expelling him from his home? The family's reaction? Sosiko and his enterprise, testing out his film and the burning down of the tent? Financial difficulties? The council meeting in the city and the rejection of his plans? The balloon flight and his disappearing from sight? His memoirs and their contribution to the Georgian heritage? A humorous portrayal? A character study?
6. The picture of Georgia at the turn of the century - elegant Russian society soon to be overthrown, the workers, the ordinary people of the town, the pompous city council? The details of life, work - the carnival and the man with the magic lantern etc.? Landladies? Eccentrics who fly balloons?
7. The film's gentle touch in portraying human nature sympathetically? Audience response to watching sympathetic sequences on the screen? The power of cinema and its place in the future?
8. The visual delights of the film, the gentle quality, insight and history? The possibility of this kind of film for all national industries and the origins of cinema in that country?
