GEORGIA, GERMANY – 2022 – DCP – color – 107’

Direction: Ioseb “Soso” Bliadze
Screenplay: Taki Mumladze, Ioseb “Soso” Bliadze
Cinematography: Dimitri Dekanosidze
Original music: Original music: Oto Meskhy, Beka Ungiadze, Jan Dwartman, Eko & Vinda Folio, Kung Fu Junkie
Editing: Ioseb “Soso” Bliadze
Cast: Taki Mumladze (Tina), Mariam Khundadze (Megi), Sophio Zeragia (Nini), Lashao Gabunia (Vajiko), Ioseb “Soso”Bliadze (Dito), Giorgi Tsereteli (Beka), Giorgi Grdzelidze (Giorgi)
Producers: Eva Blondiau, Elmar Imanov, Ioseb “Soso” Bliadze
Production: Color Of May, Maisis Peri

SYNOPSIS

Tina, a young woman who has lost her way in life, rents a room from the vibrant Megi, thanks to whom she gradually starts todiscover what it’s like to be free and to be able to make her own decisions without being reliant on men… Self-assured in its directorial style, this authentic film portrays millennials in contemporary Tbilisi and points to the influence of patriarchal thinking on Georgian society.

THE DIRECTOR: IOSEB “SOSO” BLIADZE

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, 1986. Graduating from high school, he studied at Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Institute of Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Major in Informatics. 2008 – Prior to 2012 he studied at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgian State University, Faculty of Film and TV, Major in Directing. After diploma work The most precious(2012), he made another short film Three steps(2017), premiered in Rotterdam film festival and after that it was shown in 20 festivals and got 10 awards. In 2020 his new short film was in official selection in Festival du court métrage de Clermont-Ferrand.In 2021 Soso’s first feature film premiered in Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and got a FEDEORA award.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“Room of My Ownis the film about 24-year-old Tina, who loses everything at first and only understands that she must then becomeindependent. The film is set at the present time during the Corona Pandemic in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.Tina grew up in the Georgian province in a conservative family. No one cared about her education because, in their view, girls didn’tneed to learn. Her mission in life would be to serve her husband and raise children. Tina therefore did not learn a profession. Shemarries Datuna from the capital Tbilisi and moves there to live with him. Tina does not know love, nor does she marry Datuna forlove. It is only for Beka, Datuna’s friend, that she has feelings for the first time and embarks on an affair with him. When Datunafinds out about it, he stabs Tina with a knife and has to go to prison for 7 years. Everyone finds out what happened and disowns Tina.They are ashamed of Tina. From now on, the young woman has neither family nor friends. Only Beka. At this point the film begins.We follow Tina as she tries to start over. Only with the help of her roommate Megi does she understood who she is and what shewants.In Georgia, there are many young women like Tina. There is even the so-called “femicide”, where husbands kill their wives. Thishappens at least thirty times a year. The murder is one problem, The second is that society in Georgia excuses these murders. Thewomen did something wrong, people think here. Women here are still often seen as “property” of the man. First she “belongs” to herfather, then to her husband. In our society, women have to fight a lot to be free in their decisions. Then, when they have made it, theyare often seen as “inadequate”.I became a father of a great girl 3 years ago. Since then, the subject has taken on yet another meaning for me: I worry a lot aboutwhat kind of world she will live in when she grows up. I want her to be able to live in a self-determined way. But my wish is notenough if society does not tolerate her freedom of choice. With this film, I want to fight alongside women and make peoplereconsider their point of view. I want the viewer to put themselves in Tina’s shoes, a person who had no choice to plan her future,who fell in love with the wrong man and who was always the “guilty one” for society. Tina doesn’t know independence and that’swhy she looks for another person to depend on in Beka. She does not know what her hobbies are, what she likes or dislikes, who sheis. The story should encourage young women to see themselves as an independent person, to respect themselves and take away theirfear of independence.I am also writing the screenplay with a young woman for this reason. Taki Mumladze hasn’t written a screenplay yet, but she is themain actress in this film. That’s why it was important to me that she speaks in her own voice, so that the script would be as authenticas possible. Taki knows Tina’s problems and worries all too well. For a Georgian script, there are very revealing scenes in it.Taki herself decided to make such scenes part of the film, because they are part of a young woman’s discovery process, and shefinally finds herself through Megi’s love and respect.Moreover, a woman’s personal development also includes self-determination over her own body. I admire the courage of my co-writer and leading actress Taki Mumladze to open up to this story and this character (Tina) in such a way that others can see her as arole model.The authenticity is also reflected in the guidance of the camera: The camera will always be at the height of the main character. Wesee and hear everything from her perspective. Most scenes will be shot in one take. This style gives the audience the feeling ofauthenticity, and I want the audience to feel the same way as the main character.”

FILMOGRAPHY
2012 Kvelaze Dzvirfasi (The Most Precious, short)
2017 Sami Sapekhuri (Three Steps, short)
2019 Tradicia (Tradition, short)
2021 Otaris Sikvdili (Otar’s Death)
2022 Chemi Otakhi (A Room of My Own)

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

2022 Karlovy Vary IFF – Main Competition: Premio Best Actress Award for Taki Mumladze and Mariam Khundadze
2022 Golden Apricot FF – Regional competition