Hollywood optimism for Georgia

Mikheil Saakashvili is considered the author of idea of the film about the Russian-Georgian conflict of 2008. The film was sponsored by a successful businessman, Koba Nakopija (according to informal data, he gave about 30 million dollars). Renny Harlin (the director of films «Die Hard 2»,«Cliffhanger» and «Deep Blue Sea») accepted the offer at once. Later, at a press conference held in Tbilisi, he said that the destiny of Georgia, which had endured the attack by its huge neighbor, reminded him of the tragic story of his native Finland, which fought for its freedom and independence too. He also said that members of his family participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939.

The film starts with the postulation that truth is the first victim of war. The slogan was «Struggle for the Truth».

The plot is obscure: an American journalist tries to take a video-recording of the atrocities of Russian aggressors against the civilian population of Georgian villages in South Ossetia from a zone of the conflict. He wins in the “struggle for the truth” with the help of a Russian military man, whose conscience made him help the American journalist.

The Georgian army actively participated in shooting the film. Dozens of tanks, infantry combat vehicles and warplanes were also brought into action. The scenes with President Saakashvili (performed by Andy García) were shot in the cabinet of the president.

Sharon Stone attended the premiere. The actress was received by Mikheil Saakashvili. He invited the guest to the roof of the presidential palace and made the actress, who is known to be afraid of heights, step onto the glass surface of an observation deck at a height of 70 meters. Then the actress met the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilya II. Renny Harlin and Andy García arrived in Tbilisi from Los Angeles. The director fell to his knees, kissed the Georgian soil and said that thenceforth he considerd Georgia his second native land, after Finland (although the director is a US citizen). The ceremony in honor of the premiere took place in front of the Rustaveli cinema, where a fierce clash took place on May 26 between demonstrators and Georgian special mission units. According to latest recent data, 4 people were killed then. The fact that the spot was
selected for the celebration caused serious public discontent and protest.

George Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. "Specially for VК"