This is the first full time feature of Dover Koshashvili, an Israeli director of Geogian origin who made only one film since then, and now has two other films in production. I love his work (although not perfect) and found it as some of the most promising stuff in the recent raising wave of better Israeli cinema.
Dover Koshashvili is placing the action of his films in the media of the Georgian community in Israel. Describing the culture shock and traumas of the meeting between the immigrant societies and traditions and the young but so conflict ridden Israeli society is a recurring theme in the Israeli film since the 50s and 60s, and lately was combined with other genres like the ethnic intermarriage theme, so well known for example to British film makers examining Indian and Pakistanis assimilation in the UK.
'Hatuna Meuheret' is however more than an ethnic, or immigrants, or wedding movie, it stands ahead by the quality and bluntness of the approach in describing the family relations, by the fine understanding of the relations between characters within and out the traditional family cell, and by the almost perfect mastering of the actors work. Moni Moshonov for example in the father role is of a completely different ethnic origin, but he not only delivers his role in perfect Georgian (so I heard) but he is also exemplary in radiating the brutality, the sharp feelings and the limitations of his character.
I am really curious if the coming movies of Dover Koshashvili are still entrenched in the Georgian immigrants universe. It is probably time for such an original voice to find his way out, so that he is not stereotype perceived by viewers into one genre. In any case I am looking forward to watch his work in the years to come.