Georgian Film ‘The Antique’ Will Play at Venice Film Festival Overcoming Alleged Russian Censorship Attempt That Had Blocked Screenings

As an ardent movie enthusiast with a penchant for historical dramas and a deep appreciation for artistic freedom, I am elated to hear about the victory of Rusudan Glurjidze’s “The Antique” at the Venice Film Festival. The fact that this film, which sheds light on a dark chapter in history, was initially blocked due to what appears to be political maneuvering, is disheartening but not surprising in today’s world of censorship and power plays.


On Wednesday, a court in Venice decided that the Georgian drama “The Antique,” directed by Rusudan Glurjidze and portraying the forced deportation of Georgians from their country by Russian authorities, will now be allowed to be shown at the Venice Film Festival. This decision comes after a legal dispute, which some claimed was part of a Russian campaign, had initially prevented its scheduled screenings

The Venice Days sidebar, which operates independently, announced that a decision was made in our favor by the court, allowing for the screening of the film. This ruling acknowledges the filmmaker’s ethical rights

“We can well say, then, that justice has been served,” it added.

In the year 2006, Russia serves as the backdrop for “The Antique,” a story that explores the forced expulsion of many Georgians living in the country during that period

Earlier news mentioned that the organizers of Venice Days and its governing body, the Venice Biennale, decided to cancel the press and industry screening of “The Antique” last week. This action followed an emergency court order issued by Italian lawyer Bruno Della Ragione, who represents three production companies: Viva Film from Russia, Avantura Film from Croatia, and Pygmalion from Cyprus. The order was issued due to a copyright dispute over the film’s script

Asked about details of this legal dispute, Glurjidze at a press conference last week said: “I am a filmmaker, not a lawyer. But I can tell you that I am in the middle of Europe and I am being censored. I think this is very worrying.”

In my role as a movie critic, I found myself embroiled in a legal battle against an injunction. To navigate this complex situation, I enlisted the help of a talented trio: Fabio Moretti, Manuela Molinari, and Giulio Berrino – all esteemed members at Castaldipartners, an international law firm. Working hand-in-hand with Guendalina Ponti, my legal advisor, we collaborated to tackle this challenge head-on

There was no immediate comment from Glurjidze who will be holding a press conference tomorrow.

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2024-09-04 20:18