Once upon a time I watched Repentance (1984) by Tengiz Abuladze more than twice - which is a world record as I rarely watch a movie - or read a book - more than once. I´ve also seen a movie or two by Otar Iosseliani, but don´t remember too much about any of them. That´s all I ever knew about Georgian film directors.
Beginning/Naked Sky - available on MUBI - is the very articulated debut movie by Dea Kulumbegashvili, released the last year, which entered the official selection of Cannes Film Festival. Shot on 35 mm, it is a very intense - at the limit of the shock - glimpse into a segment of the life of a couple. Following a fire put by extremists to a prayer house, Yana (her name is mentioned later in the story) and David, probably a preacher, are under the pressure of not knowing what to do, although aiming, both of them, for a different future. Yana especially, is like permanently lost in a sea, floating, randomly shaken by the waves.
Right now, I am not sure if the particular details of the events, that they belong to Yehova´s Witnesses, influence the interpretation and understanding of the story. I´ve found the information in a presentation of the movie, and not sure what to do with it. In any case, they look like an isolated group under pressure and unwanted officially, but the meaning of the situation is relatively clear even without a label.
What exactly it is happening with the woman, which looks and behaves as being emptied, is not clearly put into words. She just want to be left with herself, and than a terrible tragedy happens, but she reacts far less intense compared to her everyday escapism. Her silences are long closed-ups leaving the viewer in the difficult situation to fill it with sense. But not all have to be told and some silences are better left empty.
Rating: 4 stars
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