Hostages (2017) User Reviews (13)

Hostages

[indiecinemamagazine · 6/10 · 21 February 2017]

The film Hostages (Mdzevlebi) directed by the young Georgian director Rezo Gigineishvili was shown at the Berlinale in the Panorama section. It is based on the true events of a plane hijacking in 1983 by a group of youngsters belonging to the artistic elite of Georgia. The hijacking resulted in multiple casualties and all hijackers, except the woman, were executed. After the USSR dissolved, the participants of these events were sometimes romanticized and represented as heroic martyrs.

The film leaves a strong impression and leaves room for thought. The closing sentence of the film – " In 1991 the freedom of movement was finally granted" – is something completely unnecessary; first of all this is common knowledge and secondly the lack of freedom of movement cannot be an excuse or explanation for the atrocities depicted in the film.

The film does not offer answers and does not explain motivation of horrific actions of hijackers, however it poses some profound questions, which is also important, especially as this event is still shrouded in mystery. The picture filmed in minimalistic style and is made in an almost documentary fashion, it is tense and grips the viewer all the way through.

Read more at: http://indie-cinema.com/2017/02/hostages/

Interesting true story from Georgia

[Red-Barracuda · 6/10 · 25 June 2017]

This movie is based on a true event that occurred in 1983 in Georgia when it was part of the USSR. A group of young people, highly dissatisfied with life under the Soviet state, decided to hijack a passenger jet and force it to take them out to the West.

First off, it is great to have a chance to see movies made it parts of the world with little cinema output. For this reason alone, Hostages is a worthwhile film, given its Georgian origins. The story itself is one not known to me at all but it is certainly an interesting set of events. It is a film which operates in shades of grey as opposed to black and white certainties. We do sympathise with the frustrations of the hijackers and their daily grind but it is difficult to condone their actions given that people were killed as a result of it; then again, the Soviet response to the incident was extremely heavy-handed, although they were trying to resolve the problem. The result is a more even-handed and thought-provoking film than might otherwise have been produced, although it would only be fair to say that it is definitely critical of the life that was imposed on people under the communist regime. The gloomy early 80's period detail is well done and the film is very well made. Perhaps the material could have been focused a little more sharply in places maybe but overall this is worth seeing for sure.

Como dejar frio con un secuestro. How to get cold with a kidnapping

[Andres-Camara · 5/10 · 3 June 2018]

Es una película que se mantiene muy alejada del espectador. No consigue engancharte nunca. No entiendes muy bien los motivos de nada, no sabes cómo se les pudo ir tanto de las manos y no entiendes como se confundieron tanto al hacer las cosas.

Los actores están bien, pero la mayoría son demasiado herméticos.

La iluminación que tendría que crear un clima muy especial, entre frio y tenso. Solo crea un ambiente seco. No llega a transmitir nada ni apoya la narración.

La dirección para mi gusto está un poco perdida. El ritmo se le va de las manos. Te llega a aburrir en algún momento. Parece que le gusta hacer los planos de una manera, pero luego rueda otros planos de otra manera totalmente distinta. No hay una unión de nada. Algunos planos son terriblemente feos y mal hechos.

He aprendido otro capítulo de la URSS pero más allá no va

It is a film that stays very far from the viewer. It never gets hooked. You do not understand very well the reasons for anything, you do not know how they could get so out of hand and you do not understand how they got so confused when doing things.

The actors are fine, but most are too hermetic.

The lighting that would have to create a very special climate, between cold and tense. It only creates a dry environment. He does not transmit anything or support the narrative.

The address for my taste is a little lost. The rhythm is getting out of hand. It gets boring at some point. It seems that he likes to do the plans in one way, but then he rolls other planes in a totally different way. There is not a union of anything. Some planes are terribly ugly and badly made.

I have learned another chapter of the USSR but beyond it it is not going

from East

[Kirpianuscus · 25 August 2020]

It is one of films coherent, maybe, only for the Eastern Europeans . Because the story is far to be a comfortable one , it seems only a sketch, the simpathy for young people looking for freedom becomes in conflict with the victims. For many reasons, a manifesto. About an age, so unique, against dictatorship, about fear and unpredictable reactions, about a wedding and a too fragil plan of escape. One of the virtues - the presence of Avtandil Maharadze in one of secondary roles.

What kind of a person excuses terror?

[realmarvelous · 1/10 · 27 September 2017]

This so called "movie" is so awful. Don't waste your time and money. Seems like it's producers had been buying tickets themselves and paid for the reviews to ensure interest and ratings.

Terrorists are shown as good guys. What? They say that this so called movie is based on reality. It's a big fat lie. You won't see the real facts: how these animals tortured women and children, how they did all of this just because they craved for popularity and money, how they laughed while killing people, how enormous their cruelty was. And how almost all of the terrorists were "Golden Children", whose rich parents tried to buy them out with their millions afterwards. And how those parents sponsored the book this so called movie is based on. Maybe they sponsored this too? Imagine if some crazy liar makes a movie with the idea that 9/11 terrorists were nice people that rebelled the regime and we all are just too stupid to understand them?! I was told that the director Rezo is a Russian Gigolo, who has no real job. Well, "Hostages" is a proof that if you are good on a couch, you'd better stay on a couch and don't annoy people with your face-palm creativity.

I believe that...

[kakhelofficial · 9/10 · 22 April 2017]

I watched the movie the night of the premiere in Tbilisi, I had read a book based on the events. The Book is called (Flight from USSR) and I recommend it to anyone who sees the movie and finds it interesting.The book is in fact worth reading, when the film ended I was hearing mixed reviews from the audience, most of whom were confused over what they saw, just like me. I who had read the book, found the movie complex. I imagine for those who had not read the book or for people from other countries it would be harder to understand because we grew up with this story and overall we know what was going on but others did/will not.Not to the point where they should understand.Sometimes I thought that the movie focused on stuff that did not really made sense or was not important at all.I thought that the director had emphasized on other details of the same story than the book I mentioned, like he wanted to say the same story with a different angle.

On the other hand, The acting was great, I was blown away with the Wedding scene just like the airplane scene.

To sum up my opinion I would like to say that it was a good movie in general but I would preferred if it was more like the book.

Poor kittens fighting for freedom

[nyutkamarko · 1/10 · 23 December 2018]

It's based on true events, but it shows a completely different characters. The movie depicts those people as victims, who just wanted freedom. In reality, they were spoiled brats of quite rich powerful people, with all the money and means to immigrate (as they wished so much) peacefully. Instead they chose to hijack the plane and become anti-soviet heroes in the western world, asking for a political asylum. (Because there is a difference between an unknown immigrant and a high profile political victim, sponsored and promoted by the other government PR agents) According to the real documents and witnesses they didn't act as scared good guys on the plane, they didn't help wounded - they inflicted those wounds! They acted as all classic terrorist act - killed people who showed any threat, tried to keep the crowd scared and under control by abuse and humiliation (e.g. didn't allow them visit the toilet, keep beating flight attendants when they felt like it).

Same story about the special forces, authorities, the trial and the person who inspired the group - it was all shown a little bit opposite of what it was. Authorities were shown as eager-to-assault people, aborting the negotiations. In real life "hostages" refused to talk to their parents themselves. Nobody mentioned that they threatened to bomb the plane with all the passengers on board (because they had grenades). Nobody showed how special forces managed to bloodlessly secure the plane in 8 minutes (I would be keen to watch this part instead). Court speeches included more "political" parts from the real trial than the parts about murders and violence. The initial mastermind of the whole attack (the priest) was shown as a completely uninvolved innocent person, guilty of only gifting someone Beatles records (although Beatles were not banned in USSR in 80s, they were quite popular and were sold legally at the music stores). Of course as a result the final verdict seemed like a cruel over-reaction in the movie.

I think that if you wanted to film something about the dark sides of USSR regime, you should have picked something else. Anything but the bloody terrorist attack, organised by wealthy attention seekers, where real innocent hostages have died or became disabled for the rest of their lives.

More than expected!!!

[mariamo-lobzhanidze · 9/10 · 3 May 2017]

I have red, haired and watched quite a lot about this historical event. Opinions always differ.. I will say briefly, that this film was more than I expected. It was way far from subjectivity and excessive romanticism what would make unambiguous heroes out of the main characters. Great scenario! Great actors! bravo!!! Great film!

not fun to watch

[i-fathy · 3/10 · 17 March 2018]

It may be a true story and may be technical it is good, but my opinion is that there is so much filling in the movie at the beginning and then the main event is very short and i didn't really enjoy watching this movie.

Well done, but not a fun watch

[Red_Identity · 10 December 2017]

I can't deny the technical strengths of the film. The film is well done. The performances across the board are strong, the cinematography gripping and effective for the kind of story being told, and the screenplay never feels exploitative. However, it's not exactly an enjoyable film to watch. I definitely do recommend it as a piece of filmmaking, but it's one that's hard to love. Still, one can't deny the impact the film has. I think the mysterious incident at the core of it does cloud it in mystery, and the film rightfully doesn't want to give easy answers or excuses for the behaviors shown.

Not very well acted

[canerbaskurt · 5/10 · 9 January 2021]

A good story, but not very well acted. Besides, why would they hijack a plane from Tbilisi to Batumi within the boundaries of the same country if the ultimate aim was to escape the country itself? Why didn't they take the bus or drive, which would solve things peacefully? The movie should have told the reason behind this.

Movie title

[zviad_k · 10/10 · 26 October 2020]

Why is the title of the film in the original with a Russian word, when the film is released under a Georgian name.

about freedom

[Kirpianuscus · 24 August 2020]

It is a special film. Superficial, at the first sigh, maybe only a sketch but perfect for remind the realities unde Soviet regime. A special virtue Avtandil Makharadye as Shota . And the fine portraits of the characters. It is not easy to explain the roots and the desire and the needs of the young people looking for be in Occident. But the realism of acting gives many clues. Without explain < proposing only pieces for define, in fair and delicate manner, the enthusiasm and adrenaline , the mistakes as result of panic and fear and absence of experience, the sufferance of parents, the need to understand of a mother. Yes, it is inspired by a real case, one from many results of desperation behind Iron Courtain. But it has , in same measure, status of warning and hommage and manifesto. Its aspect of sketch is its main virtue because things like thant are only imagenated and feeled.