And Then We Danced (2019)

Directed by: Levan Akin | 113 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: Levan Gelbakhiani, Ana Javakishvili, Bachi Valishvili, Giorgi Tsereteli, Tamar Bukhnikashvili, Marika Gogichaishvili, Kakha Gogidze, Levan Gabrava, Ana Makharadze, Nino Gabisonia, Mate Khidasheli, Aleko Begalishvili

There is a first time for everything, even for film buffs. The first cinema, the first arthouse, the first animation, the first horror. And it never stops. This reviewer saw a Georgian film for the first time in his (almost) old age. A film that made it to a Swedish (!) nomination for the Oscar for best foreign film. That too was a first.

In ‘And Then We Danced’ – because that’s what we’re talking about – we get to know a group of young dancers from the Georgian National Ensemble. Merab and Mary have been a couple since they were ten, first as dancers, later also as a barely practicing love couple. They belong to an elite group of dancers, who all want to get a place in the main body of the ensemble. Merab is a good contender for such a move, until one day the handsome Irakli joins the group, leaving Merab in love-struck confusion.

‘And Then We Danced’ is a clever combination of dance film and romantic gay drama. Dance and gay seems like a common (if somewhat clichéd) combination, but not in Georgia. Most of the dancers are as macho as can be and most Georgians we see here do not deviate an inch from the boarded up traditions. This means that Merab and Irakli have to overcome a lot of danger and obstacles in order to be able to do something with their crush.

The power of this drama lies in the sum of individual elements. The beautiful dance scenes, the atmospheric surroundings of old Tiflis (although we also briefly see the ugly suburbs), the wonderful folk music, the chemistry between the two boys and the complicated relationship between Merab and Mary. In many romantic gay movies, focus and sympathy are often entirely with the romantic couple, ignoring the environment. ‘And Then We Danced’ offers plenty of attention to Mary’s suffering and to the capricious emotions of the family.

This makes this first look at the Georgian film a very successful one. But that Georgian homosexuals have a lot to fight, was clear from the anti-gay demonstrations during the premiere in Tiflis. A dark edge to a sweet pink film.