In Tbilisi, Georgia, teenage Merab lives in a crowded apartment where the electricity gets turned off as regularly as his phone runs out of data, forcing him to panhandle. After a lifetime of rigorous training alongside his dance/romantic partner Mary, Merab has hitched his hopes for an escape from his circumstances to a coveted slot in the Georgian National Dance Ensemble. But the tradition-bound regional ensemble leader thinks Merab is too “soft” to master the challenging, athletic choreography. The arrival of another male dancer, Irakli—gifted with perfect form and movement, and equipped with a rebellious streak and eyes full of mischief—upends Merab’s dedication to the company and his relationship with Mary, with galvanizing results. Levan Akin’s gorgeous film is a feast for the senses and an emotional tug on the heart. With his exuberant physicality, star Levan Gelbakhiani—who won the Best Actor award at the Sarajevo Film Festival—shapes Akin’s story into a joyous journey of liberation, a coming-out and -of-age tale, and above all, a vibrant, musical celebration of the dance of life.
EXPECTED GUEST: Director Levan Akin
Thank you to our Community Partner Spahr Center!