Dede

Taking place in the country of Georgia shortly after the Soviet Union broke apart there erupts ethnic & regional conflict (w/the usual Russian interference currently ongoing in Georgia & Ukraine's Crimea annexation) resulting in many going off to and coming home from battle which is where this story starts. An Eastern Orthodox Christian country that because of poor education still relies on the traditions of the church to set precedence & govern behavior. One issue facing this ethos is the status of women (a common issue in many conservative religions) where they have a status & value somewhere at or below that of livestock. Although male-centric even the elderly women, poorly if at all educated, also preserve the status quo of God, Jesus, and ancestral spirits to determine the fates (along w/sacrificing a pig, goat or chicken). The female fate, "She must be cheerful, wear colorful clothes, and have a baby." Oh, and then there's forced/arranged marriage, and an attempt at rebelling against it (and the cruelty of people imposing their religious interpretations upon others), which is what this story is about. Filmed on location, w/beautiful scenery & remote villages.

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.

The film DEDE impressed me deeply. It combines cultural history with a tragic cinematic story. It is document and art at the same time. Masterful! In addition, this high performance was achieved through the participation of mostly amateur actors. They were all and are Svans. The film DEDE is an extraordinary project. Anyone who visits Ushguli or Svaneti these days will not only learn about the fate of women in a film, but also about history. Everything designed up close. The great camera work and the impressive faces are also impressive. When I come to Georgia, to Mestia or to Ushguli, I see the film DEDE again and again. Aesthetically, this film has great power. I can only recommend this film to everyone.

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!!

An excellent directorial debut from Mariam Khatchvani, beautifully framed and shot. She makes hard narrative choices, to sympathetically show the extant tension between conservative traditions, and a young woman's desire for autonomy - all within the framework of a love story destined for a tragic end.

Based on real events, and showcasing a turbulent period in recent Georgian history, it is a story that could be from many places, and is all the more remarkable for how recently the story is set.

Khatchvani directs with a light touch, and gets wonderful and credible performances from many local people who make up her cast, much in the same vein as Pasolini.

Minor missteps in pacing and editing are easily forgiven for the sure hand shown in shooting and framing the narrative - the village of Ushguli and its beautiful surrounding mountains play as much a character as any of the actors. Absolutely worth your time.