O Pai do Soldado

In the World War II, the peasant Giorgi Makharashvili (Sergo Zakariadze) receives a letter from his beloved soldier son Goderdzi, who is fighting in the front driving a tank, telling that he was shot in the shoulder and is recovering in a hospital in Dubovo. He leaves his wife and his grapes in Georgia and travels for a long time by train and wagon to reach the hospital. However, he learns that Goderdzi has been discharged and sent back to the front. Giorgi decides to head to Domidovo to seek out his son but he does not find him. He joins the Soviet Army to fight against the Germans expecting to find his son. Will he succeed in his search for Goderdzi?

"Jariskatsis mama", a.k.a. "The Father of a Soldier", is a touching and beautiful Georgian and Russian antiwar movie. The plot alternates funny moments with dramatic situations in an impressive environment of war. Sergo Zakariadze has a magnificent performance in the role of a family man that needs to see his "tall and handsome" son no matter the price; otherwise what will he say to his wife and friends? The heartbreaking conclusion of this little masterpiece is very sad but never corny. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "O Pai do Soldado" ("The Father of the Soldier")