Domino Effect

The rundown pier at the water’s edge in the Abkhazian capital of Sukhumi is one of the many silent witnesses to the situation in this former Soviet state. It was once a vacation paradise for wealthy visitors from Russia, but since the departure of its big brother Abkhazians have been unable to get this tiny coastal mini-state on the Black Sea onto the international map. The government’s athletics minister wants to change all that by bringing the World Championship Domino Tournament to the city, and it’s an ambition that won’t be dampened by the continual power cuts. At home, the minister tries to reassure his Russian wife that all will be well. She left behind her daughter and her singing career to come and live in Abkhazia, where she is treated like a second-class citizen. Together they embody the strained relationship between the two countries. Elwira Niewiera’s real-life soap reveals the tragicomic reality of the country, but always remains respectful of the protagonists, who seem unable to live either with or without each other. As the sun rises over the Black Sea, you realize that when all the tears have been shed and harsh words said, you have become rather attached to the plaintive diva and the melancholy minister.