And then we danced

Queer, Coming of Age

113 min

FSK 12
Als wir tanzten
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And Then We Danced_0.jpg
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OV Trailer

Merab has been training since a young age at the National Georgian Ensemble with his dance partner Mary. His world is suddenly turned upside down when the charismatic and carefree Irakli arrives and becomes both his strongest rival and desire. In this conservative setting Merab finds himself having to break free and risk it all.

Director
Levan Akin
Cast
Levan Gelbakhiani, Bachi Valishvili, ...
Original language(s)
Georgian
Credits
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Written by
Levan Akin
Year
2019
Country
France, Georgia, Sweden
Genre
Queer, Coming of Age
Cast
Levan Gelbakhiani, Bachi Valishvili, Ana Javakishvili, Giorgi Tsereteli, Tamar Bukhnikashvili
FSK Rating
FSK 12
Original title
And then we danced
Release date
01.01.2022
Synopsis
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Merab is a student at the Academy of the Georgian National Ballet in Tbilisi. His greatest dream is to become a professional dancer. When Irakli joins the class, Merab initially sees him as a serious rival for the longed-for place in the permanent ensemble. The competition soon turns into an ever-increasing desire. But in the school's homophobic environment, which upholds conservative notions of masculinity, the two are expected to keep their love a secret. The rousing love and dance drama by Swedish director Levan Akin was hailed as a discovery in Cannes and has received numerous awards since then, including four categories at the Swedish Guldbaggen Film Prize. Against the queer hostility that is alarmingly widespread in Georgia, the director, whose family is also from the country, counters with a determined celebration of non-heterosexual love. Leading actor Levan Gelbakhiani, one of the European Shooting Stars of the Berlinale 2020, was showered with awards for his gripping performance and was nominated for the European Film Awards.