And Then We Danced (2019)

‘And Then We Danced’ is such a special film, crafted with love and necessity, honest in its intentions and pure in heart. I found myself totally swept up in it and, by the end, my heart burst with love for it. This will easily go down as an LBGTIQ+ classic; how extraordinary is it for Georgia to have such a film as part of its cinematic legacy, not just for its craft but for what it represents. ‘And Then We Danced’ is the past and the present at odds, with the future ultimately at stake, rendered in flesh and bone by the powerhouse debut performance of Levan Gelbakhiani, easily one of the best of the year. Levan Akin has made a remarkable film, a passionate dance for love, for country, for tradition, for art and for survival.
- Daniel Lammin

Read Daniel's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-and-then-we-danced-a-passionate-and-remarkable-classic-in-the-making

Drama queer in Georgia, country where dance is Nation. A fairly classic gay plot on movies, but poetry and dance. Sensitive.

This is a superb film that depicts an excerpt in the life of a young man from Tbilisi - "Merab" (Levan Gelbakhiani) who balances his work in his family restaurant with his training to be a classical dancer at a very tough school that emphasises the masculinity and traditions of ancient Georgian dance. His life is somewhat turned upside down by the antics of his wayward brother and by the appearance of "Irakli" (Bachi Valishvili) at the dance school - a man with whom he starts to explore more of his own personal identity in a culture that takes an exceptionally dim view of homosexuality. Gelbakhiani is super here; he genuinely can dance - and the emotive themes that conveys are simple and special. The use of the traditional musical accompaniment - with frequently just a drum (and a wee bit of Abba) - all adds to this gently authentic slice of the life of this aspiring and inspirational young man on his way, we hope, to better things. The last five minutes are a wonderful demonstration of his skill/perserverance and determination.

"Georgian dance is about masculinity. It used to be softer, but we changed it 50 years ago."

This award-winning film demonstrates that the struggle for identity, for becoming truly who we are, is worldwide and culture independent. It's a beautifully made film, with a soft, dark tone. I'm a bit of a sucker for a dance film, and I give this a 90/100 - 40 for the story, 40 for the acting and 10 points extra for the incredible, sarcastic, final dance performance. It really just blew me away and I can't stop thinking about it.

_And Then We Danced_ is tender, defiant, and quietly powerful. Set in Georgia’s rigid national dance scene, it follows Merab, a young dancer caught between tradition and desire. The lead performance is subtle and affecting, and the choreography carries real emotional weight. _Like Call Me by Your Name_, it explores the exhilaration and ache of first love—but with a rawness and urgency that feel unique. Some story beats are familiar, and the pacing drifts at times, but the film’s sincerity and emotional payoff ring true.