Kukaracha

Siko Dolidze's 1982 Georgian film is set in Tbilisi before the war. Georgy, a young militia man, is well liked in his neighbourhood, and the nickname given to him supplies the film's title. The narrative sits between a detective story and a neighbourhood tale. Georgy deals with crime and also involves himself in the affairs of the people around him; betrayal and loyalty stand at the centre of the plot and the resolution is slow to come. It is adapted from a novel by Nodar Dumbadze. It has the warm tone of Georgian cinema of the Soviet period; there is violence, but the film's interest is in its characters. Who it's for: those who like Georgian cinema and period stories. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a tightly built detective film; the narrative turns often into side stories.