Beroureebis gadaprena Migrating Sparrows / La Migration des moineaux

by Temur Babluani

1988 Selection

U.S.S.R 1988 1h00

Feature Film

A train such as this does not exist here. A train goes from Tbilissi in Georgia to Moscow - a train that could be one from an old route to the west. A train of miracles. A society in miniature. The camera stops on a group of plain-looking travelers - only one woman among them. Quickly everyone's attention is focused on one individual, dressed like a nobleman in one of Chekhov's plays. He talks to himself. They listen to him talk. They are fascinated by the knowledge he has of things of which they are ignorant : music, literature, foreign countries. Suddenly, within this enclosed space of a train running through the Georgian countryside, they launch themselves on a trip. Each personnage is painted with grand traits - tender or feroucious, ironic or cruel, with precision and subtlety. However, one man takes no part in the group or all this. It is evident he's not fascinated by or even interested in the others. His attitude is different, and the others start to reproach him. An argument breaks out, then calms down. This man's only preoccupation is putting bits of bread in his pocket...