“Touchingly absurd and absurdly touching . . . A slow-burn family drama infused with welcome doses of deadpan dark humor.”—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
In this portrait of parental sacrifice and the love of a father for his son, former wrestler Kakhi (played by real-life Olympic champion Levan Tediashvili) embarks on a journey from his home in the Republic of Georgia to visit his son Soso (Giorgi Tabidze) in the Russian-speaking neighborhood of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. There he finds him living in a shabby boarding house populated by a colorful group of fellow Georgian immigrants. Soso is not studying medicine, as Kakhi believed, but is working for a moving company and has accrued a $14,000 gambling debt to a local Russian mob boss. Kakhi sets his mind to helping his hapless son out of his debt, leading to situations as often comic as they are dire.
Lensed by Oscar®-nominated cinematographer Phedon Papamichael (The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nebraska), Levan Koguashvili Brighton 4th won three major awards at the Tribeca Film Festival – Best International Film, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay – and is Georgia’s official submission to the 94th Academy Awards. 2021, Russia/Bulgaria/U.S., DCP, in Georgian, English and Russian with English subtitles, 95 minutes. Rated R.
Talk Cinema is programmed by the esteemed film critics and film curators Harlan and Susan Jacobson, featuring a sneak preview screening of an art house film prior to its release followed by a discussion. Be the first to see the latest films and to share your impressions.
Past films have included C’mon C’mon, Spencer, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Two Popes, The Farewell, Moonlight, Shoplifters, The Florida Project, and Lady Bird.