Une famille heureuse

The Georgian film Chemi Bednieri Ojakhi (2017) was shown in the U. S. with the translated title My Happy Family. It was written and co-directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili. (The other co-director was Simon Groß.)

Ia Shugliashvili portrays Manana, a middle-aged teacher. She lives with her father, mother, husband, son, and daughter in a crowded apartment. There's no real hostility, but people are endlessly bickering

One day she decides to leave her home and rent an apartment. She doesn't ask for a divorce. She just moves out. This isn't exactly normative in the U. S., but it's definitely not normative in Georgia. The plot follows Manana's activities after she has made this move.

Ia Shugliashvili is a professional actor, and has made other films. I think she plays Manana in an excellent, fully believable manner. She has the title role, and the movie rises or falls on her work. I think it rose.

This movie worked on the small screen. It has a solid IMDb rating of 7.4. I thought it was even better than that, and rated it 9.

P. S. The closing scene is fascinating. It leaves matters open to interpretation.

Fantastic depiction of Georgian culture of extended families with elegant twists, wonderful acting and songs

The theme of wanting to find oneself, to be at peace, to be still and hear only the sound of rustling leaves and a neighbor's piano practice... a woman finding her own self causes instability within the family; Beautiful and simple tale of the craziness of longing for personal space in a society that resists the idea that women can exist independently.

A beautifully observed, character driven film. A delicate and subtle film that's strength lies in its simplicity. Long takes give great freedom to the actors who embody their roles with a raw honesty. The script is lean but carries an deep emotional undercurrent. Can not recommend enough.

Mark Twain had said "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness". Movies like this one helps to learn about different cultures and that in turn helps to understand that there is not much difference in how people live around the world. If you have prejudices to any country, its people, watch movie like this one.