Elena Mikaberidze: Blueberry Dreams

I was in the cinema Dagmar the other night to watch the Georgian film “Blueberry Dreams” produced by Elene Margvelashvili from Georgian Parachute Films and directed by Elena Mikaberidze. It is a masterpiece from a director, who has stayed long enough with her protagonists to catch, what is so important in documentary observation, MOMENTS, of the poetry of life as it is to find in a family of four, mum and dad and two wonderful boys. Here is the CPH:DOX catalogue description:

“Led by the good-hearted father Soso, a family of four starts a blueberry farm to secure their future together. But with a home in northern Georgia, their village is close to the troubled border with the Russian-backed region of Abkhazia, where new conflicts have been rumbling for 30 years. Soso is a retired engineer, but together with his wife Nino and their sons Giorgi and Lazare, he throws himself into the ‘Plant the Future’ programme set up by the Georgian authorities to stabilise the area. Nino is haunted by memories of the war and dreams of her children experiencing the world, while Soso wants to maintain their connection to the land. But Giorgi and Lazare long for a different future, immersing themselves in anime and dreaming of visiting Japan. In the midst of their daily lives, the family navigates between hardship, joy and contemplation of a different future.”

On the photo you see the youngest son Lazare, who is my darling of the film. Full of life, in constant movement, quick in conversation, normally with a hat on his head, showing his drawings of life, and one on war – what will become of him, a lot I hope, life can´t stop him.

Ileana Stanculescu from CinéDoc Tbilisi was at the premiere as well. Read her fine words:

“Yes, this was a great world premiere, in a full cinema, with an audience that was laughing and reacting at every important moment in the film and… most relevant… an audience that was touched by the story of Soso and his struggles to survive, to raise his boys and to develop his blueberry farm in West Georgia, in spite of many difficulties. Such a warm film, beautifully shot, great editing… Soso and his family will stay with us for a long time.”

Georgia and other countries, 2024, 75 mins.