At the midpoint of her astounding first feature “Beginning,” Georgian writer-director Dea Kulumbegashvili pulls off a brazen formalist coup that will either envelop you entirely in its world or freeze you out for good. On a glimmering autumn afternoon, put-together mother Yana (Ia Sukhitashvili) goes strolling with her pre-teen son Giorgi (Saba Gogichaishvili) in local woodlands, pausing at a leaf-carpeted clearing, where ringing birdsong and insect chatter fuse into a kind of white noise. Carefully, she lies down and closes her eyes. For six minutes, across one unbroken, tightly framed shot, we watch her rest, playing dead when her son tries to rouse her; eventually, the soundtrack of nature is subsumed by the quiet of her mind, briefly at peace.
“Beginning” contains more jolting provocations on either side of this pristine long take, but none quite so breathtaking. Some may dismiss it as an indulgent stunt, but viewers receptive to...
“Beginning” contains more jolting provocations on either side of this pristine long take, but none quite so breathtaking. Some may dismiss it as an indulgent stunt, but viewers receptive to...
- 2/20/2021
- Variety Film + TV
Similar News
Filmotor Nabs World Sales for Berlinale Title ‘Shahid’ Ahead of Visions du Réel Premiere (Exclusive)
- 4/14/2024
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
14 Films to See at New Directors/New Films 2024
- 4/1/2024
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Isabelle Huppert Would Love to Play a ‘Real Villain,’ Even in a Marvel Movie
- 3/25/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
2023 San Sebastián: Camborda’s “The Rye Horn” Wins Golden Shell, “Kalak” & “Puan” Double Up in Prizes
- 9/30/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Jaione Camborda’s ‘The Rye Horn’ wins Golden Shell at San Sebastian
- 9/30/2023
- by Elisabet Cabeza
- ScreenDaily
‘Citizen Saint’ Review: A Nightmarishly Handsome Allegory for the Destructive Power of Faith
- 7/8/2023
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
All The Mutants Morph Changes Into Throughout X-Men '97
- 3/20/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
‘The Impossible Heir’ – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Air?)
- 3/8/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
The Orville Is Actually Much Darker Than You Think
- 2/28/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.