Short synopsis:
The old dictator of hypothetical unnamed country faces the last days of his iron-fist rule, with the revolt building within nation and fully blowing up in one day. Moments before the revolution dictator dispatches his family out of the country, but his grandson, a 6-year old child who loves him very much, stays with him and their destinies become inseparable. The revolution breaks out quickly and everything is over in less than a day. Dictator, unprepared for that speedy turn of events, is forced to flee in a very uncommon and improvised way. He disguises himself and his grandson as a street musicians, and blends in with the common people, desperately trying to avoid numerous military patrols who are on the hunt for him, as well as the rage of once-oppressed but now liberated people. The old man and the kid travel to the border trying to reach safety, but it is also a trip of discovery - the discovery of the horrors that the nation experienced during the years of tyranny.
More detailed description with spoilers:
The movie has been shot in Georgia (European country), which was a stand-in for a generic unnamed country. But the main theme of this movie is well known in many countries: the problem of society lacking humane laws, lacking humane treatment of citizens, basic justice and personal liberty. The main concern of the movie is not so much the destiny of dictator himself, although there is a lot of suspense whether he and his grandson will be caught or not. Much more accent was placed on the observation of the disastrous results of his unjust rule. And this is told through the stories of the "heroes" of the movie - numerous characters from the ordinary, common-day folks, who cross their paths with our two protagonists and share the pieces of their life stories with them. These short stories are the main strength of the movie and the reason you should watch it. There is also the fundamental question raised towards the end: What is the appropriate answer to the violence of the regime? Is it more violence, or should the people try to evolve and attempt to start a new system in human, merciful way? Unfortunately, after many stressful and heartbreaking stories learned in the meanwhile, there is a discouraging feeling that the common people will have to walk the long path to be able to raise above their oppressors.
This movie can be understood as a political story, but also, if you take the point of view of the little boy, it can also be seen as a horrifying fable about the strange, cruel and incomprehensible world of the adults. The kid is very young and it is difficult for him to understand what is going on (his grandfather mostly manages to control him by pretending they are playing the game of running and disguising), but there are strong and intense moments when he realizes the life-threatening dangers and his carefree view of the world falls apart, making you feel deep sorrow for the kid's sad fate.
The movie seems a little sloppily conceived and executed in the beginning, it occasionally gives a sense of naivety, but it becomes stiffer and more powerful towards the end and a strong finale is well worth the time you spent with this story.
The old dictator of hypothetical unnamed country faces the last days of his iron-fist rule, with the revolt building within nation and fully blowing up in one day. Moments before the revolution dictator dispatches his family out of the country, but his grandson, a 6-year old child who loves him very much, stays with him and their destinies become inseparable. The revolution breaks out quickly and everything is over in less than a day. Dictator, unprepared for that speedy turn of events, is forced to flee in a very uncommon and improvised way. He disguises himself and his grandson as a street musicians, and blends in with the common people, desperately trying to avoid numerous military patrols who are on the hunt for him, as well as the rage of once-oppressed but now liberated people. The old man and the kid travel to the border trying to reach safety, but it is also a trip of discovery - the discovery of the horrors that the nation experienced during the years of tyranny.
More detailed description with spoilers:
The movie has been shot in Georgia (European country), which was a stand-in for a generic unnamed country. But the main theme of this movie is well known in many countries: the problem of society lacking humane laws, lacking humane treatment of citizens, basic justice and personal liberty. The main concern of the movie is not so much the destiny of dictator himself, although there is a lot of suspense whether he and his grandson will be caught or not. Much more accent was placed on the observation of the disastrous results of his unjust rule. And this is told through the stories of the "heroes" of the movie - numerous characters from the ordinary, common-day folks, who cross their paths with our two protagonists and share the pieces of their life stories with them. These short stories are the main strength of the movie and the reason you should watch it. There is also the fundamental question raised towards the end: What is the appropriate answer to the violence of the regime? Is it more violence, or should the people try to evolve and attempt to start a new system in human, merciful way? Unfortunately, after many stressful and heartbreaking stories learned in the meanwhile, there is a discouraging feeling that the common people will have to walk the long path to be able to raise above their oppressors.
This movie can be understood as a political story, but also, if you take the point of view of the little boy, it can also be seen as a horrifying fable about the strange, cruel and incomprehensible world of the adults. The kid is very young and it is difficult for him to understand what is going on (his grandfather mostly manages to control him by pretending they are playing the game of running and disguising), but there are strong and intense moments when he realizes the life-threatening dangers and his carefree view of the world falls apart, making you feel deep sorrow for the kid's sad fate.
The movie seems a little sloppily conceived and executed in the beginning, it occasionally gives a sense of naivety, but it becomes stiffer and more powerful towards the end and a strong finale is well worth the time you spent with this story.