As a cinephile with a penchant for discovering hidden gems from around the globe, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation when it comes to Ana Urushadze‘s sophomore feature, “Supporting Role.” Her debut, “Scary Mother,” was an exhilarating oddity that left me in awe, and I have no doubt that her latest work will continue to showcase her unique storytelling prowess.
Filmmaker Ana Urushadze, whose first movie “Scary Mother” was awarded as Best First Feature at the Locarno Film Festival in 2017, is preparing to release her next highly-anticipated production titled “Supporting Role.” This week, the writer and director will showcase this upcoming film in the work-in-progress section of CineLink Industry Days, which serves as the industry division of the Sarajevo Film Festival.
In my perspective as an ardent admirer, this movie chronicles the journey of a once illustrious figure in Georgian cinema. This journey is set in motion by an encounter with a promising young female director during a casting call, which leads him on an extraordinary and seemingly predestined voyage of personal metamorphosis. Initially offended by the proposition of a secondary role, he is accustomed to portraying charismatic heroic characters. However, in a manner that remains unbeknownst to him, he finds himself slipping into character and eventually accepting the part he was offered, without conscious realization.
In a conversation with EbMaster in Sarajevo, Urushadze shared that the movie’s concept originated from auditions for her initial film production. She was on a quest to find an elderly man to portray the protagonist’s father. One of the actors who showed up was deterred when he found out that Urushadze, being “a young and inexperienced girl,” was both the scriptwriter and director. Consequently, he refused the part.
As a cinephile, I found myself captivated and began to ponder about the possible experiences of this filmmaker and wondered why his self-esteem seemed to be bruised. From a distance, the dynamic between this fresh talent and the seasoned actor became quite intriguing – a promising newcomer director and an established veteran performer.
As I delved deeper into crafting this character’s story, ideas for themes seemed to emerge effortlessly. These included an examination of masculinity and the challenge of adapting to a world in flux. Additionally, I found myself drawn to a struggle that resonates all too well among Georgian actors – one that is, unfortunately, far too prevalent.
“She remarked that while we have an abundance of incredibly gifted actors, most face a common struggle despite their exceptional skills: they endure difficult lives marked by low pay, poor health, and dwindling opportunities for fresh roles, particularly in films. Consequently, their immense talent and untapped potential often fade away over time.”
Experienced Georgian film star Dato Bakhtadze, known for films such as the 2004 Best Picture Oscar winner “Crash” and Timur Bekmambetov’s “Ben-Hur,” has been cast in the leading role of Niaz. Niaz is a seasoned actor who has typically portrayed heroic, perfect, superhuman characters on screen. Interestingly, he adopted this persona off camera as well, living up to the admiration and praise from his audience. According to the director, this is the character that will be played by Bakhtadze.
As a dedicated cinephile, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation when hearing about a beloved actor making a comeback after a 15-year absence to address personal matters. According to Urushadze, for this artist, time seems to have stood still. The severe ordeal he experienced in the past has left him trapped in yesteryears, under the delusion that the world remains unchanged. However, the reality is far from it – the world and its people have evolved, and so too has the genre of filmmaking that this artist has been associated with, leaving him perhaps less comfortable than before.
In this production, Bakhtadze’s wife is portrayed by Nata Murvanidze, the director of “Scary Mother” which earned her the best performance accolade at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Elene Maisuradze, on the other hand, takes on the role of Aza, the young filmmaker who has control over Niaz’s destiny. As Urushadze explains, Aza inadvertently catalyzes a process of personal transformation within Niaz.
“Although Niaz seems to be heading towards difficulties in his career and health, upon watching the movie, it becomes clear that throughout this period, he’s actually been growing and revealing more about who he truly is and what he genuinely wants.”
The debut film by a Georgian director, a captivating piece about a middle-aged woman discovering liberation through her initial novel, was awarded the top honor at Sarajevo in 2017 and represented Georgia for the 90th Academy Awards. In a glowing review, Jessica Kiang of EbMaster praised the “boldly daring” movie as an “excitingly eccentric oddity” and “a remarkable debut that rightfully claims its position as a flag-bearer for one of the most vibrant and unique national cinemas to emerge in recent times.”
As a film enthusiast with a passion for international cinema, I have had the privilege of working with a diverse group of talented individuals from various countries. One such collaboration was a project called “Supporting Role,” produced by a team consisting of Davit Tsintsadze from Georgia’s Zazafilms, Ivo Felt from Allfilm in Estonia, Zeynep Atakan from Zeyno Film in Turkey, Andrey Epifanov from Cinetrain in Switzerland, Eleonora Granata Jenkinson from Melograno Films in the U.S., and Sophio Bedenashvili, Bacho Meburishvili of Enkeny Films, and Dato Bakhtadze from Georgia.
The movie was filmed on-site in Georgia, with Estonian cinematographer Rein Kotov at the helm. Financing for this production was provided by the Georgian National Film Center, the Estonian Film Institute, the Estonian Cultural Endowment, the MEDIA Programme of Creative Europe, Eurimages, and Cinetrain.
The Sarajevo Film Festival runs Aug. 16 – 23.
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2024-08-19 13:17