Guria

A portrait of a widowed father trying to make ends meet in rural Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, the western Georgian region of Guria is struggling with power cuts and economic uncertainty. Zuriko, a widowed father and hazelnut farmer, is simply trying to make ends meet. With the help of his friend Gela, he searches for better buyers for his crop, while navigating a daily life that includes everything from highway robbers to his growing interest in Maia, the village music teacher.

Set in rural Georgia in 1992, this charming black-and-white film captures a time of economic hardship through the small moments of everyday life.

The film had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this year and is Georgia’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film.