Hostages

Panorama Special 2017

The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1983. Border guards are keeping an eye on a group of young Georgians who are enjoying a boisterous dip in the Black Sea. They are smoking cigarettes from the West and listening to the Beatles. They all long to lead independent, professional lives, free from the police state and their parental homes. The group includes doctors, actors, an aspirant for the orthodox priesthood, as well as Anna and Nika, who are about to marry. But their thoughts are all preoccupied by something else altogether: after the wedding they plan to board a scheduled flight in Tbilisi, hijack the aircraft at gunpoint and force the pilot to land in Turkey. Their fierce desire for freedom and an unfortunate chain of unexpected events lead to a national tragedy. A tense, atmospheric re-telling of the Tbilisi hijacking of 1983 depicting young Soviet citizens who see themselves crushed between the promise of Western culture and repressive Communist rule. The sensitive performances of the actors show just how their desperation leads to violence, and how their parents are left paralysed and helpless by an inhumane system.

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by Rezo Gigineishvili
with Merab Ninidze, Darejan Kharshiladze, Tina Dalakishvili, Irakli Kvirikadze, Giga Datiashvili, Giorgi Grdzelidze, George Tabidze, Giorgi Khurtsilava, Vakhtang Chachanidze, Ekaterine Kalatozishvili Russian Federation / Georgia / Poland 2017 Georgian, Russian 103’ Colour

With

Merab Ninidze (Levan)
Darejan Kharshiladze (Nino)
Tina Dalakishvili (Anna)
Irakli Kvirikadze (Nika)
Giga Datiashvili (Koka)
Giorgi Grdzelidze (Sandro)
George Tabidze (Oto)
Giorgi Khurtsilava (Lasha)
Vakhtang Chachanidze (Irakli)
Ekaterine Kalatozishvili (Tamuna)

Crew

Director	Rezo Gigineishvili
Screenplay	Lasha Bughadze, Rezo Gigineishvili
Cinematography	Vladislav Opelyants
Editing	Jaroslav Kaminski, Andrey Gamov
Music	Gia Kancheli
Sound Design	Kirill Vasilenko
Sound	Gleb Nekhoroshev
Production Design	Kote Japaridze
Costumes	Tinatin Kvinikadze
Make-Up	Aigule Khabirova, Salome Zakaraia
Casting	Larisa Sergeeva, Olga Litvinova
Assistant Director	Marina Kulumbegashvili, Ekaterina Vasilieva
Production Managers	Mamuka Chikhradze, Semen Kapsh, Aleksey Karpushin, Lucja Kedzior-Samodulska
Producers	Mikhail Finogenov, Tamara Tatishvili, Vladimer Katcharava, Rezo Gigineishvili
Co-Producer	Ewa Puszczynska
Co-Production	Extreme Emotions Łódź

World Sales

WestEnd Films

Produced by

Ink TV

20 Steps Production

Kinocompania Nebo

Photos

Press Conference

Rezo Gigineishvili

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1982, he lives and works in Georgia and Russia. He studied at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow and is an established director of commercials who is now focusing on auteur cinema. His films, including the romantic comedy Love with Accent, have been big commercial hits in both Russia and Georgia.

Filmography

2006 Heat 2008 Love with Accent 2015 No Borders 2017 Hostages

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017