Since Otar Left (2003)
"Depuis qu'Otar est parti..." (original title)

The one joy in the lives of a mother and daughter comes from the regular letters sent to them from Paris from the family's adored son, Otar. When the daughter finds out that Otar has died ... See full summary »

Director:

Julie Bertuccelli

Writers:

Julie Bertuccelli, Bernard Renucci,

Stars:

Esther Gorintin, Nino Khomasuridze, Dinara Drukarova

12 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Esther Gorintin	...	Eka
Nino Khomasuridze	...	Marina
Dinara Drukarova	...	Ada
Temur Kalandadze	...	Tengiz (as Temour Kalandadze)
Rusudan Bolkvadze	...	Rusiko (as Roussoudan Bolkvadze)
Sasha Sarishvili	...	Alexi (as Sacha Sarichvili)
Duta Skhirtladze	...	Niko (as Douta Skhirtladze)
Abdellah Moundy	...	Le berbère (as Abdallah Moundy)
Mzia Eristavi	...	Dora
Misha Eristavi	...	Fils Dora
Zoura Natrochvili	...	Voisin (Mika)
Alexandre Makhorablichvili	...	Fonctionnaire
Micha Moudjiri	...	Directeur usine
Jacques Fleury	...	Homme d'affaire 1
Frédéric Payen	...	Homme d'affaire 2

Storyline

The one joy in the lives of a mother and daughter comes from the regular letters sent to them from Paris from the family's adored son, Otar. When the daughter finds out that Otar has died suddenly, she tries to conceal the truth from her mother, changing the course of their lives forever.

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Plot Keywords:

letter | paris france | sorting mail | mother daughter relationship | rural | 

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Taglines:

For a mother, a sister and a niece, nothing is the same . . . Since Otar Left [UK Quad Poster]

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

France Belgium Georgia

Language:

Georgian French Russian

Release Date:

17 September 2003 (France)

Also Known As:

Since Otar Left

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$13,763 (USA) (30 April 2004)

Gross:

$344,974 (USA) (16 July 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Poisson, arte France Cinéma, Entre Chien et Loup

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

A Household of Women Faces the Big Lie and Little Ones

"Since Otar Left (Depuis qu'Otar est parti...)" deals heartbreakingly humanistically with many of the same political and family issues that "Goodbye, Lenin!" treats for humor -- today's ironic adjustment to capitalism in former U.S.S.R. satellites, the cross-generational responsibilities of those who lived under the Big Lies, and filial love.

With dialogue in French, Georgian, and Russian, debut writer/directer Julie Bertucelli focuses on a Francophile household of an earthy grandmother, mother, and daughter in Georgia and their relationships to the dead, absent, and present men who are satellites in their lives.

While there's reminders of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Last Leaf," not a single character is a cliche or dumb and none of their decisions is predictable. The audience literally holds its breath to see each woman's reactions as their emotional predicaments get more complicated in a weave of their own making.

The actresses, from 21 to 90 years old, brilliantly convey the complex emotional see saw.

A simply beautiful movie that's one of the best of the year.