I was born in Georgia and just discovered the wonderful director who have made this movie, what an experience! Amazing, timeless picture with subtle nuances, authentic characters and strong, interesting story. It's not for everybody, you need to be relaxed to enjoy how events are unfolding and it leaves a very bittersweet aftertaste in the end, but it's a very remarkable movie. I won't spoil it, but one of the creative solutions, although quite simply done cinematic-wise, was a final icing on the cake for me and elevated the movie even higher. Small details matter and some of the could be treated as symbolic too, in my opinion. Although the storytelling is fluent and most of the events are packed closer to the ending of the movie, the earlier part of the movie will reward attentive viewer with warmth.

This one of the few movies I've seen that improves with each viewing (4, in my case). It is enigmatic and subtle, but manages to be entertaining and, at times, laugh out loud funny. The acting is superb (particularly the "busy old lady" as the previous poster calls her) and the cinematography first-rate. Iosseliani manages to lampoon both European capitalism and his own Russian culture but he does so in a gentle, almost loving manner. I hate to see this film slide into obscurity; it is an important work with a timeless and relevant message. A feast for the eyes and the soul. I want to advertise it on a blinking billboard, but Iosseliani would probably wag his finger at me... Should be watched with a glass of fine wine.