Gagma napiri (2009) User Reviews

Gripping and visually impaling in the land of the lost

[markedasread · 9/10 · 17 August 2010]

Stranded in a war-torn-worn-down Tsibili in the aftermath of the conflicts between Abkhazia and Georgia in the early 90′s, 12-year-old Tedo and a slightly reluctant mother find themselves living as refugees, trying to make ends meet. As Tedo's glue sniffing friends are arrested for petty crimes and the mother prefer scummy lovers over him, the young boy embarks on a journey back to Abkhazia to find the father left behind.

The Other Bank much reminisces of Greek director Angelopoulos film Landscape in the Mist, where the children also leave what they call home on a quest to find a missing father. They both encounter various kinds of people who treat them in various ways, some times quite unexpected. What makes The Other Bank interesting in particular is that it is set in such a remote location, showcasing a reality (and the scenes it takes place in) characterized by poverty, uncertainty and everything else that war brings with. The boy moves through desolate landscapes and cross borders where passing may rob you of your life.

Politics strongly pervades pic, but philosophical aspects hand in hand with a few visually impaling scenes and a grand acting by the lead performer turns it into a definite winner.

A beautiful story that needs to be told

[deproduction · 8/10 · 22 November 2009]

This film is stuck in my mind days after seeing it. The film was well-done and well-acted but viewing it was not a pleasant experience. It shares the story of Tedo, a 12 year-old Georgian refugee struggling with poverty, prejudice, and separation from his father, years after the war with Russia. In the US, we heard the headlines of Russia's invasion of Georgia, and perhaps a clip or two of Angelina Jolie visiting a refugee camp, but this kind of personal story demonstrates the lasting and long-term impact of such atrocities. The main character, Tedo is so endearing and lovable, your heart aches for him throughout. I would give anything to reach through the screen and give him the safety and love all children deserve. You wait for him to find that security and love, or to experience a moment of pure childhood joy, though you know that its unlikely. This is the kind of film that reminds you that film is insignificant except for its power to expose us to perspectives and experiences we could otherwise never see. This film will forever contribute to my perspective on war and refugees. It is a contribution to our collective morality and humanity, helping those few who will see it grow past the senseless hate and waste of war and prejudice.

An explanation of the final scenes

[stanrodman · 8/10 · 25 April 2009]

The group of men in the closing scene are actually militant separatists who are conducting the ethnic cleansing of Georgians during the uprising in Abkhazia.

Young Tedo reluctantly joins in their drunken dance, then tries to escape, at least

mentally, by recalling his friends glue-sniffing recollections of wild African animals in one of the beginning scenes. He has now come to the realization that there is no where for him to go, nothing left of his family as he knew it. Such is the reality for

thousands of "internally displaced" children in Eastern Europe, as well as elsewhere,

that are literally left to fend for themselves for the rest of their lives. Whatever the political and military realities are in any given country, it continues to be the children, forced to grow up quickly or die at the hands of military forces from one side or the other, that will bear the brunt of future suffering.

One Of the greatest georgian films ever

[kerplunk-15 · 10/10 · 18 March 2010]

The Best Georgian film For last years, it's so difficult nowadays in georgia to make good film with good synopsis and visually too, but "the Other bank" is the one of the first in 2000's georgian cinema , that you can watch and then maybe cry to , everything is awesome, plot very interesting , director at his top, an very good acting too, i've listened the story of the main character boy, i mean "tedo" he even didn't know what does it mean Film Director, and why does he say what to do , but his acting is awesome, he's only 11 years old here and much better than many georgian actors, and the final scene is so good with many comtroverses, so i can say only one thing about Gagma Napiri , nearly Perfect, Great Movie

Must See Movie

[milu888 · 10/10 · 24 October 2011]

Beautiful heartbreaking story, that puts into context the aftermath of a war. I thought the most thought provoking line was when one of the kids offered Tedo advice saying "Can you speak Russian or Abkhazian? No, then you're Georgian." Such a superficial division caused so much conflict and heart break.

This was echoed through out the movie, when Tedo would be honest where he was from, then his situation generally got worse. Finally at the end, he fully committed to being deaf and mute, and he was accepted (at least from what we saw as the movie closed).

I also found another scene compelling when a Georgian man picked a fight with a Russian (who had a machine gun). I kept wondering why someone would stand up to someone, even though the odds were not stacked in their favor. The Georgian man ended up dead, and I think this symbolized the over arching conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Puzzling Ending!

[bigdave11 · 6/10 · 16 February 2009]

I've just seen this at the Berlin Film Festival. It tells of a young boy from Georgia on his way to his place of birth in Abkhazia where he hopes to find his father. The area is portrayed as a grim landscape of bombed out buildings where the unfortunate survivors of the recent war eke out a precarious living. The photography of a rarely seen part of the world is beautiful and the film successfully draws the viewer into the plight of the plucky youngster who sets out to search for his lost father despite advice that he will be dead. Along the way he meets a collection of weird and wonderful characters who help and hinder him in his quest. Up until the last 10 minutes I really enjoyed the movie but the abrupt and puzzling conclusion spoiled it for me. **SPOILER ALERT**. On arriving at the town of his birth he is told that his father re-married and moved away many years ago. He wanders out of the town and comes across a group of drunken musicians. They ask him to join in - he does. The screen goes black for a couple of seconds and then we are treated to a vista of wild animals - giraffes and elephants etc - wandering over an African landscape. The movie then ends! I've no idea why African animals should suddenly make an appearance. Can anybody post the reason for this strange ending? I enjoyed the first 80 minutes but a movie should have ending!