Director: Rusudan Chkonia
Screenplay: Rusudan Chkonia
Cinematographer: Konstantine Mindia Esadze
Editor: Jean-Pierre Bloc, Rusudan Chkonia, Levan Kukhashvili
Sound: Paata Godziashvili
Cast.: Ia Sukhitashvili, Gia Roinishvili, Olga Babluani, Tamuna Bukhnikashvili, Nana Shonia, Shorena Begashvili, Maka Chichua, Lela Metreveli, La Ninidze
Production:
Ex Nihilo
Dist. ZED
9 rue des prairies
75020 PARIS
France
Tel: 0033 1 53 09 96 96
[email protected]
www.zed.fr
Year: 2011
DCP, colour, 91 min
OV Georgian with French subtitles
In Tbilisi, the Georgian television organizes a contest for ‘Best Mother of the Year’. The winner will be awarded an apartment and 25 000 dollars. Ten mothers will confront each other and do their best to have a chance of getting a better life. No holds barred; the only rule is to keep smiling.
“In this film we see women fighting, loving and being strong; they dream of a brighter future. They make mistakes, forgive, and try to get things change. They are able to feel solidarity. “Keep Smiling” is a satirical portrayal of the Georgian society. Today Georgia is facing a very interesting phase. We live at a transitional time: while a country continues to advocate values it holds dear, the mentality and ways of thinking are evolving. Yet, such changes are formal, superficial and unconscious. It is therefore a difficult process, somehow a bit puzzling…
My aim was to depict the controversy and distress of this transitional time in Georgia… After this film I was rather seen as a feminist.” Rusudan Chkonia