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Taming the Garden
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Taming the Garden
IDFA 2021

Taming the Garden

Salomé Jashi
Georgia, Germany, Switzerland
2021
92 min
Dutch Premiere
Festival history

In a scene that is as sad as it is absurd, we see a woman watch, sobbing, as an ancient tree is driven by truck, roots and all, out of her village.

The immensely wealthy former prime minister of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, is developing a private botanical garden full of ancient trees that he has had dragged in from all over the country. In using his power and money to enrich his own life, he is taking away the soul and oxygen from an all but powerless population. Under false pretenses, these mythical giants are being uprooted for a mere pittance, leaving in their wake enormous craters, road congestion, train delays and the destruction of property, local nature, or even the trees themselves.

The journey that follows, over land and sea, is documented in elegant static shots, intercut with scenes in which workers discuss their perspectives about this bizarre job, and villagers struggle to contain their frustration and rage. One or two still harbor the hope that Ivanishvili will come through on his promises. Although the film’s director Salomé Jashi refrains from comment, the political statement is crystal clear.

Credits
Director
Production
    Vadim Jendreyko,
    Erik Winker,
    Martin Roelly for Corso Film,
    Salomé Jashi
Cinematography
Sound Design
    Philippe Ciompi
    Philippe Ciompi
World Sales
    Syndicado Film Sales
    Syndicado Film Sales
Screening copy
    Syndicado Film Sales
    Syndicado Film Sales
Music
    Celia Stroom
    Celia Stroom

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