Dede

With simple, slow-moving scenario, the film is beautifully made in terms of cinematography, amazing scenery and settings, but also casting. The actors all appeared as if they were real local mountain villagers, particularly the elderly ones. The villages where the action takes place were straight out of the Middle Ages. I was fascinated to look at the details of the interior of houses, the furniture, the utensils, bedding, clothing. Even though the film takes place in modern era, time up in this mountainous area of Georgia looks to have stood still. Adherence to traditional values and to religion is evident throughout the film. Some scenes really stuck to mind, the heavy snow covered village rooftops and pathways, the horse-racing women riders, the little boy singing at the top of his voice while the little girl of same age next to him nodding off. There's not much to write about the plot, but it is a film worth watching because of the way it is made...

"Dede" is a beautiful, moving, heartrending story, based on actual cultural practices (brideknapping included) in the Caucasus until just a few decades ago. Sadly, these cultural practices still prevail in more than a few countries around the world. I'm no expert in Svaneti, but after traveling in the region with local residents, staying in local guesthouses, and hearing their stories, all of the events in the movie ring true. "Dede" is expertly told on a tiny budget, with (mostly and perhaps all) amateur actors. This is what movie-making should be about, not all the special effects, car crashes, and explosions.

Taking place in the country of Georgia shortly after the Soviet Union broke apart there erupts ethnic & regional conflict (w/the usual Russian interference currently ongoing in Georgia & Ukraine's Crimea annexation) resulting in many going off to and coming home from battle which is where this story starts. An Eastern Orthodox Christian country that because of poor education still relies on the traditions of the church to set precedence & govern behavior. One issue facing this ethos is the status of women (a common issue in many conservative religions) where they have a status & value somewhere at or below that of livestock. Although male-centric even the elderly women, poorly if at all educated, also preserve the status quo of God, Jesus, and ancestral spirits to determine the fates (along w/sacrificing a pig, goat or chicken). The female fate, "She must be cheerful, wear colorful clothes, and have a baby." Oh, and then there's forced/arranged marriage, and an attempt at rebelling against it (and the cruelty of people imposing their religious interpretations upon others), which is what this story is about. Filmed on location, w/beautiful scenery & remote villages.

I am Georgian myself and saw this movie in Svaneti (where it was taken). I am ashamed to see that people are abusing the dark side of our history to play on people's emotions superficially to win grants, but regretfully the movie has no value. Instead of showing the real life in mountains, the actual traditions (which were very developed and the included mediation and such institutes as jury etc. The director is playing on people's emotions artificially).

This is not how the life was in Svaneti, people were much kinder to each other and nobody killed and raped each other like this. I'm sad to see this movie and hope not many people will get to see it because it is filled with lies. The director just used cheap methods for playing on emotions with lies and artificial scenes. I was sad to see this movie.

The film DEDE impressed me deeply. It combines cultural history with a tragic cinematic story. It is document and art at the same time. Masterful! In addition, this high performance was achieved through the participation of mostly amateur actors. They were all and are Svans. The film DEDE is an extraordinary project. Anyone who visits Ushguli or Svaneti these days will not only learn about the fate of women in a film, but also about history. Everything designed up close. The great camera work and the impressive faces are also impressive. When I come to Georgia, to Mestia or to Ushguli, I see the film DEDE again and again. Aesthetically, this film has great power. I can only recommend this film to everyone.