Director: Tinatin Karjrishvili.
Cast: Mari Kitia, George Maskharshvili, Natia Niguriani.
Running Time: 93 minutes.
Synopsis: A woman (Kitia) tries to make her marriage work, despite her husband being incarcerated in a strict Georgian prison.
From Georgia comes this gritty drama that focuses on the barriers put up where romance is involved. Unlike many classic tales that riff on Romeo and Juliet however, BRIDES sees a world where the boundaries have been put up by the characters themselves. Although it is not a forbidden romance, it is one where meetings must adhere to a rigorous schedule, and rules which impede both sides. In that sense the film is a tragic love affair that should be emotionally powerful. What gets in the way of such power is the rather clunky narrative.
Director Karjrishvilli tells the story with individual scenes, each one possibly being a short film in its own right. This tries to give the sense of a grand passing of time, probably to reflect the lengthy prison sentence, but in terms of the audience becoming connected to the film it is a huge problem. It could be argued that such a technique is entirely on purpose, making us feel the distance that the couple themselves experience. But, purposeful or not, the feeling just makes it hard to connect and care.
Not all of the disconnect can be attributed to the film itself, as there are clear cultural and political messages that will sweep over the head of many a non-Georgian audience. It’s clear that the prisons are a strict and humiliating place for all involved. The wives must be searched and have certain gifts thrown out for little to no reason, and we gradually see the rules becoming more relaxed, resulting in the last and most interesting act, in which wives can spend the night with their husbands.
Outside of the prison, lead actress Kitia carries the rest of the film with a restrained performance that captures every subtle nuance. She’s frustrated by her mother, confused by a blossoming affair, and focused on raising her children. The script lacks needy speeches or emotional outbursts reserved for less confident films, but the confidence makes this a very exclusive film. The film is based on the experiences of the director and her husband, and the film does feel incredibly personal, almost to a fault.
Gripping and memorable in short bursts, BRIDES is an example of a film that will powerfully knock the socks off a small minority, while making the vast majority feel alienated from what’s going on onscreen. Realistic performances and a melancholic atmosphere just aren’t enough to make the film an intriguing watch.
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