Log in

View Full Version : Andy Garcia playing Mikheil Saakashvili in upcoming film "Georgia"



Jolt
10-20-2009, 13:23
https://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu150/Joltie/610x.jpg?t=1256041539

BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8316018.stm)


Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia is in Georgia to play the part of President Mikheil Saakashvili in a film about last year's conflict with Russia.

Georgia and Russia still disagree strongly about the reality of what happened when they went to war in 2008.

Directed by Renny Harlin, who made Die Hard 2, shooting of the film gets under way this week.

But there is speculation it could turn out to be a vehicle for Georgia to repeat its version of events.

The city of Tbilisi has been turned into a film set.

Floodlights beam down on parliament as American and Georgian cast and crew members swarm outside the presidential palace.

This multimillion-dollar film, the biggest-budget movie ever to be made on Georgian soil, tells the story of a journalist and a cameraman caught up in the unfolding drama of the war last August.

The Georgian government has actively supported the film-makers by allowing them access to public buildings.

'Objective'

But it denies that it is helping to fund the project.

One of the producers, Papuna Davitaia, a pro-government member of parliament, says the government has no role in sponsoring the film.

"The Georgian government helps only with permits for shooting. The money doesn't come from the Georgian government," he says.

And Mr Davitaia rejects allegations of bias: "It is not a propaganda movie. We try to be balanced and objective."

The film comes just over a year after the conflict. In the meantime, Russia and Georgia have competed to put their own spin on what happened.

Russian forces poured into Georgia in August 2008 to repel an attempt by Georgian troops to retake the disputed region of South Ossetia.

But neither side has ever been able to accept the other's version of events.

In addition to the Hollywood movie, Russian media has reported that the Serbian director, Emir Kusturica, is planning to shoot a screenplay to tell the South Ossetian point of view.

I must say that Andy Garcia does look a lot more like Sakaashvili (Except for situations like this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9mSxrN4zFE) one) then one would originally assume. It might be a good movie provided they can make a compelling story out of it.

Aemilius Paulus
10-20-2009, 13:29
Yeah, and it might just be banned in Russia, although that will not be a such a significant occurrence. That and half of Americans will be surprised to find that the President of Georgia does not reside in Atlanta :S


EDIT: Guess who is boycotting this film :grin:. Yeah, me...

EDIT2: Emir Kusturica??? Black Cat, White Cat? Screw Hollywood, why would I even bother - Hollywood has a knack for butchering reality and history... Emir is one of my favourites! Granted his film will be with at least a dash of propaganda, but the lad is brilliant, unlike the stale Hollywood productions :sad:.

Sarmatian
10-20-2009, 18:21
Andy Garcia in a film directed by the same guy who directed Die Hard 2? I'll have to see that one.

@Aemelius Paulus, Black Cat, White Cat is bollox film. Try Underground or When Father Was Away on Business.

Jolt
10-20-2009, 20:02
Andy Garcia in a film directed by the same guy who directed Die Hard 2? I'll have to see that one.

@Aemelius Paulus, Black Cat, White Cat is bollox film. Try Underground or When Father Was Away on Business.

Isn't it that one where the Partizans keep Josef Tito or one other Yugoslavian leader underground long after the war was over?

Aemilius Paulus
10-20-2009, 20:11
@Aemelius Paulus, Black Cat, White Cat is bollox film. Try Underground or When Father Was Away on Business.
I know it is bollox, but it was one of the best traditional comedies I have seen (tragic comedies not included). I have seen Underground. Not the second one though.

Sarmatian
10-20-2009, 20:21
Isn't it that one where the Partizans keep Josef Tito or one other Yugoslavian leader underground long after the war was over?

Roughly, yes.

Vuk
10-20-2009, 21:19
Looks like it could be an interesting movie. I read a while ago about a Russian made one about the Georgia conflict being made, though I am not sure if it is out yet. I will have to see both of them.