Why this old Georgian camp movie feels more real than modern stuff

If you are looking for a movie where things blow up or people have huge life-changing speeches, you should probably skip Banaki mtashi. But if you want to feel like you are sitting in the grass on a Tuesday in 1963, this is perfect.

It is basically about a bunch of kids going to a summer camp in the mountains of Georgia. The scenery is massive and makes the children look like tiny dots walking across the screen.

I think people who grew up going to summer camps will really get a kick out of this. People who want a fast story will probably get bored and start checking their phones.

The first thing I noticed was how loud the kids are. They aren't acting like "movie kids" who say clever things all the time. They are just loud and messy.

One boy, I think it was I. Kukhaleishvili, has this very suspicious face through the whole movie. He looks like he is constantly planning to hide someone's shoes. ⛺

There is a lot of hiking. Like, an incredible amount of walking up hills.

At one point, the camera just stays on a group of kids trying to cross a small stream for what feels like three minutes. One girl almost slips, and you can see her actually look scared for a second. It felt real.

It’s a lot more relaxed and less dark than The Awakening. It doesn't try to be heavy.

The Small Stuff

• The way they eat soup looks like they were actually hungry.
• The sound of the wind in the microphones is kind of scratchy but nice.
• The mountain peaks look like they were painted on the sky.
• There is a dog that appears for five seconds and then vanishes forever.

I liked how the movie didn't feel the need to explain everything. We don't really know all their backstories or what their parents do. We just know they are at camp and it is summer.

Sometimes the editing is a bit clunky. A scene will end very suddenly, and you're left wondering if a piece of the film got lost in a basement somewhere. It adds to the vibe, honestly.

The black and white film they used is very grainy. It makes the shadows under the trees look like deep ink. It’s way more atmospheric than something like The Sea Panther which feels more staged.

There is a scene where they all sing together. Usually, in movies, everyone sings perfectly in harmony. Here, a few kids are definitely off-key and one boy is just humming because he forgot the words.

I loved that part. It reminded me of being ten and trying to fit in while also being totally confused.

The writer, Akaki Beliashvili, seems to really understand how kids talk. They repeat themselves and get excited about things that don't matter, like a weird-looking rock.

It’s much more grounded than the stuff you see in A Jazzed Honeymoon. No one is trying to be funny for the camera.

The ending isn't a big climax. It just sort of... fades out. Like the end of a real vacation where you're just tired and want to go home but also feel sad it's over.

It’s a very human movie. Even if the grammar of the film is a bit shaky sometimes. 🏔️

If you find a copy of this, just sit back and let it happen. Don't try to figure out the "theme" or the "message." Just look at the mountains and the kids being brats.

It is a nice way to spend an afternoon. It made me want to go outside, even though I probably won't.