Ne goryuy!

A magnificent, very subtle and truly human cinema - Georgy Danelia transferred the heroes of the novel to his native Georgia and gave each of them the features of people close and dear to him - and this is really felt - we can hear how the heart beats - this is something that is close to every person - a place where they love and wait - this is a place for everyone - but it fills with warmth There is nothing like this and will not be in American cinema - Soul - here it is felt.

This is in fact the best film that Georgiy Daneliya, one of the most famous Soviet film makers has ever made. The paradox is that this the most "Georgian" film not only among Daneliya's but among many other films made in or about Georgia is based upon a purely French story -- Claude Tillie's novel "My uncle Benjamen" (there is even a French film with the same title, which was shot around the same time). Revaz Gabridze (previously director at the famous Tbilisi Marionette Theatre) has changed the scenery to a small Georgian town in the end of the XIXth century. Music for this film was written by Gia Kancheli, famous Georgian composer who always accompanies Danelia in his projects.

Danelia invited the best Georgian actors to take part in this film and each of them is like a separate page in the history of Georgian cinema: Vakhtang Kikabidze (Benjamen), Sergo Zaqariadze (doctor Levan), Sofiko Chiaureli (Sofiko), Gogi Kavtaradze (Luka), Dodo Abashidze (prince Vamekh Vakhvary), Ariadna Shengelaya (princess), Veriko Andjaparidze (bitchy old lady), Sesilia Takaishvily (another bitchy old lady - Levan's housekeeper), Ippolit Khvichia (Sergo), Abessalom Loria (chemist), Karlo Sakandelidze (advocate), Zurab Kapianidze (butler), Kote Daushvily (priest), Baadur Tsuladze (deceived husband), Lia Gudadze (deceiving wife) and he also invited famous Yevgeniy Leonov (soldier Egor), young Anastasia Vertinskaya (Mery) and the incomparable, big-nosed Frunzik Mkrtchyan (prisoner).

Probably it is not fair to emphasise anyone, but late Sergo Zaqariadze as Levan Tsintsadze cannot be left unmentioned. It is hard to imagine another actor to replace him in this film and this role is certainly the peak of his career (however others point at a role of Georgiy Makharashvily in the "Father of the Soldier").

The film provides with about 90 minutes of superb acting, famous Georgian polyphony, soft humour and sad but wise story of life and death, love and friendship, decency and honesty. And if you are trying to get the very soul of this country, the very spirit of life in a small piece of land enclosed among Black Sea and Caucasian Mountains, the very nature of the nation and its people, here it is...

Although the film is the adaptation of the French play (forgot the name - sorry), it is a wonderful portrayal of the cheerful side of Georgian character. This film will make you to burst into laughter and will fill your heart with warm sadness. It will display the overwhelming love of life along with human eccentricities.

This is just the best movie of all times! Sorry, Hollywood! I've seen it in early 70's, as soon as it appeared on the Bulgarian TV, and I loved it immediately (I was 14 then). 25 years later I bought it on a video tape, and a few months ago it finally appeared on a DVD here in Bulgaria. I live with this movie 35 years already, and so do all my friends and my family. My son was a teenager when he saw it for the first time, and he loved it immediately, too (and this is the generation that grew up watching practically only Hollywood movies and not speaking or understanding Russian at all!). What makes this masterpiece of Danelia so special? It's difficult to say, as it is difficult to describe what the beauty is... But the fact is that you can watch this movie dozens of times with the same pleasure as it was the first time. I can't remember any other such movie, no matter how many millions it cost or how great the cast was... Chapeau, Maestro Danelia! Bulgaria loves you!

this is best comedy i ever seen! but not all can understand this you must be from Georgia to understand this amazing movie! :) overall one of best film i ever seen......... Vachtangi(Benjamin) and all supporting actors playing very very good but acting of Kote Daoshvili (Father Germogel) is for my opinion best acting in supporting role in history of films :)) in this movie playing many georgian stars like ipolite xvichia,sergo Zakariadze,sofiko chiaureli,verikoan djafaridze,Sesilia Takaishvili,Dodo Abashidze.... they all are Stars in Georgian cinematography :) plus in this movie is playing great Russian star Evgeni Leonov and of course Director of the film Georgy Danelia is one of the best...... i recommending this movie for everyone but remember you must know good Russian language to watch this movie