I DIDN'T CROSS THE BORDER
THE BORDER CROSSED ME
A film by Toma Chagelishvili
Georgia, Germany 2016
HD, 16x9, 75 min.
When Russia started building barbed wire fences on the border to Georgia after the Ossetian
war, they cut right through some villages. Malchaz and Gotcha suddenly find themselves on
opposite sides. A story of friendship in times of political pressure.
Synopsis
The villagers of Churvaleti knew since the end of the Georgian war in 2008 that they were living on a border. Life
was simple, but not far from normal. Until a while ago, when Russian patrols started drawing the borderline and
putting up barbed wire fences. In Churvaleti, the barbed wire fence goes right through the village. Families and
communities got divided. Every other hour border patrols pass by and put anyone in captivity who come close
to the fence. In spite of this menace, the villagers find ways to stay in touch with their relatives and friends
across the line. Life goes on, but will it ever be the same again?
MALCHAZ and GOTCHA are childhood friends. They always have been there for each other. But now their
friendship is divided by barbed wire. Malchaz lives on the Russian side of the village. He wants to find himself a
wife, he dreams of a family and to keep the family farm running. But on his side, young women are scarce – and
the next village is miles away beyond the mountains. He needs the help of his friend Gotcha, who lives only a
few steps away beyond the fence on the Georgian side of Churvaleti.
Through the two friends we experience the tragic and absurdity, and also the funny situations from rural
Georgia with its ancient traditions and the influence of high politics on daily life.
MALCHAZ, the 27-year-old farmer lives on the occupied side of Churvaleti together with his grandparents. His
grandmother is sick and cannot keep up with the work on the farm. She cannot even visit a doctor on the
Georgian side; Georgian doctors have to come to the barbed wire fence in order to examine her from a distance.
This was one of the motivations for Malchaz to look for a wife. He has a very practical and traditional way of
thinking, typical for the inhabitants of rural areas as this one. Malchaz wants to maintain the family farm and
wants to find a wife to help him. But he wants a Georgian wife.
Malchaz is stubborn and keeps on trespassing the fence secretly, hoping to find someone with whom he could
found a family. Every time he crosses the barbed wired border, he is scared of the patrols. On the other side of
the fence, Malchaz´s best friend GOTCHA (24) is awaiting him whenever he crosses the line. Maybe he will also
find a bride for himself, and they could marry together on the same day in the same church.
Will there be a future on their farms? Will the friendship grow even over the barbed wire? Will they succeed in
finding their wives? Our two friends are on their quest for a future that seems impossible due to politics that
see a territory and a border line and forget about human beings.
TOMA CHAGELISHVILI director
Toma was born in 1972 in Telavi, Georgia. He graduated from Tbilisi State Univesity in 1994 with a bachelor’s
degree in History. He started to work as a journalist in 1994 and till 2001 was writing articles for different
newspapers in Georgia. In 2000 he was appointed deputy editor in-chief in Georgian newspaper “Eco-Digest”.
He is author and director of more than 50 documentary films, among them Documentary Series “Georgia –
Newest History”.
Toma Chagelishvili is also founder and owner of “T-studio” company, which was founded in 2010. “T-studio”
produced more that 10 documentary films, which were screened on different film festivals. Toma Chagelishvili
also writes for Georgia’s edition of “National Geographic Magazine”.
Credits:
With
Malkhaz Vanishvili
David Vanishvili
Valya Vanishvili
Gocha Makishvili
Dirctor
Toma Chagelishvili
Editor
Anna Lamazashvili
Additional Editing
Noe Tsanava
Assistant Director
Eka Papiashvili
Camera
Kakhaber Mshvidobadze
Sound recording
Tamta Mandzulashvili
Sound design
Thomas Wallmann
Producer
Stefan Kloos
Toma Chagelishvili
Victoria Kavzharadze
Creative Producer
Veronika Janatková
Carsten Böhnke
With the support of
Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program
Georgian National Film Center
Broadcasting Company Rustavi 2
Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, British Embassy Tbilisi
Coucasian House
Festivals: One World Prague, Black Sea Arts Festival
Contact:
Rise And Shine World Sales
[email protected]
www.riseandshine-berlin.de