Synopsis

1992. Young Dina lives in a remote village in Georgia where life is strictly regulated by ancient traditions. Dina’s grandfather has promised her to David, who has just returned from war. But Dina falls in love with David’s handsome companion Gegi. Is there a chance to break the old rules? The Svans, one of the “smaller” ethnic groups in the Caucasus, live in Western Georgia, and descend from a tribe already known in ancient times. Against the backdrop of a magnificent natural setting, Dede tells a story based on the personal circumstances of the director’s grandmother. Mariam Khatchvani, who comes from Ushguli in Svanetia herself, wanted to create a palpable authenticity, and depict a community and a lifestyle that has never before been seen on the big screen. Even though life in this region is full of deprivation, and strictures of long traditions, most people still remain there. Except for George Babluani, who also originates from the same area, none of the performers has prior acting experience. They slip into roles they know from their immediate surroundings. Along with Georgian, the dialogue also is in Svan, a language with no written form and at most 30,000 speakers.