Dede

This is a strange little insight into crazed culture of the Balkan people. Mediaeval at best, Neanderthal at worst. Woman are treated as possessions, religion is primitive and suddenly I understand why there are always Balkan wars. I also understand why my friends of Balkan heritage believe in conspiracy theories. What a strange primeval society. An eye opening movie!!

Very good movie about old customs in stunning part of Georgia "svaneti", beautiful views, i recommend everyone to watch this movie

The atmosphere. as a large circle of customs, traditions, relationships, faith, fears, rules. this defines "Dedi" for a viewer out of Caucasus. and it does it in precise and clear manner. as invitation to become part of this strange, cold, very old world. the first temptation is to compare. with the films of Tengiz Abuladze. yes, it is Georgia. the basic traits are the same. but it has two virtues defining it in profound sense: the vision of Mariam Khatchvani and the status of history of present. the roots are the same for an isolated comunity and the story could have as location a villge from Albania, Turkey, Greece or Romania. but it is more than a beautiful film. it is a great story about roots of ordinary life. about its structure. and about the way to transform the people in profound manner. so, a story from Svaneti. as a honest testimony.

With simple, slow-moving scenario, the film is beautifully made in terms of cinematography, amazing scenery and settings, but also casting. The actors all appeared as if they were real local mountain villagers, particularly the elderly ones. The villages where the action takes place were straight out of the Middle Ages. I was fascinated to look at the details of the interior of houses, the furniture, the utensils, bedding, clothing. Even though the film takes place in modern era, time up in this mountainous area of Georgia looks to have stood still. Adherence to traditional values and to religion is evident throughout the film. Some scenes really stuck to mind, the heavy snow covered village rooftops and pathways, the horse-racing women riders, the little boy singing at the top of his voice while the little girl of same age next to him nodding off. There's not much to write about the plot, but it is a film worth watching because of the way it is made...

The images of the landscapes in Georgia's mountainous Svaneti region are the only good points in this oversentimental melodrama. But at some point even the imagery becomes unbearable when viewers become aware of the main storyline which does not go further than superficially dangerous affairs. Lots of movies like this produced in Georgia only to get their producers on to Eurpean stage. Art needs talent, technique and wit all at the same time. Showoffs help only in short term.