O Pai do Soldado

Georgia is a little country with a population of 5 million people and its quite amazing, that we could produce such a great movies... (Unfortunately COULD is the key word here)

This is a touching story of a father who takes this long, sometimes very funny and at the same time very sad journey to find his son... his tall, handsome son...

maybe one have to know Georgia and people of Georgia to understand this movie and especially understand this old man...

And though I give credit to the director, I must admit the movie is great because of Sergo Zaqariadze... this is one of the best actors performances you can find... not only in post-soviet countries... I recommend to rent this movie as well, and maybe get a bit of Georgian Soul...

P.S. I don't see why it is recommended 'Ivanovo detstvo' (1962)... GREAT movie from GREAT TARKOVSKI... but nothing in common with 'Father of a Soldier'

This film is a magnificent example of post-war soviet films. It tells the story of Georgiy Maharashvili, who went through the entire war to find his son, whom he had not seen for a very long time.

This film, first of all, shows us what a person should be. Sergo Zakiaradze (the actor who played the role of the father), screenwriter Suliko Zhgenti and director Rezo Chekhiadze perfectly conveyed the cultural characteristics of their nation, with their traditions and customs. Just look at the scene with the tankers who decided to drive their car over a German vineyard. And when the main character hears a Georgian song in a broken building and realizes that he hears the voice of his own son, whom he has been looking for for so long along military roads... there are simply no words, only powerful emotions.

This is simply a very high-quality and emotional Soviet movie with a very powerful message. Please give it a chance.

I have never even thought about that movie as Georgian. For me - it is a movie of human heart (which is international and has nor borders). I remember when I first watched it - I was not able to fall asleep. The movie had already finished, but I was still crying my heart away. Since that I have seen it a few times and every time I cried (considering that usually I don't do it - for example - movies like Shindler's list can not make me cry). For me it is best movie I have ever seen about cruel essence of war. Movie, which is not declarative (like most soviet time movies about the war) or sentimental (like Spielberg's ones for example), but just so unbelievably touching. Just watch it, but have in mind - whether you want it or not - it will fill your heart with compassion and the process is sometimes quite painful.

though people don't care about other traditions or foreign movies, or specifically about Georgia, if you mistakely read this post, then I really recommend you to rent this movie. this is one of the Greates Georgian movies, since I'm Georgian i maybe be wrong, cause I love my country and culture and i am proud of such things as this movie, it's so moving and so funny. by the way, Gio, are you Georgian? cause it's Georgian name.

it is one of my childhood films.a masterpiece by Rezo Chkheidze. a kind of miracle because, after years and years, it remains fresh, touching and impressive. a father in search of his son. a long way. a cruel war. and expressions of deep humanity. it is brilliant demonstration of great acting and a wise script. it is work of an extraordinary director. in same measure, it is proof of a special Eastern manner to discover and transform reality. because the subject is the love. for son, motherland, grapes, values, faith and the large circles of hope. sure, it is not unique. many Soviet films presents the war in different manners. but it is different because its team has huge courage to explore the heart of war in a form who escapes by ideological rules. it can be an answer to "Ivanovo detstvo" but , if you know more about this part of world it is not complicate to discover the traces of Georgian measure of things and facts.in same measure, it can be a variant for Otets i syn by Sergei Potepalov. but, in fact, it is only itself. because Giorgi Maharashvili remains

the signature of order , soft, correct order in a time without sense and measure. and the old song is the strong proof for that.