Awards: Cannes Best First Film, César Award Best First Film, Deauville Film Festival - Best French Script, French Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Critics Award, Viennale - FIPRESCI Prize, Warsaw International Film Festival - Special Mention

Three women in Georgia (formerly one of the USSR’s republics) all suffer –in varying degrees—the loss of their son, brother, and uncle. Seeking a better life, Otar went to Paris, leaving his family behind. Mama Eka lives for the arrival of Otar’s letters. Her daughter Marina thinks less kindly of him, since caring for the family is now her sole responsibility. Granddaughter Ada watches and plots her own escape. When Otar is killed, Marina and Ada decide to conceal the truth from Eka. But things get unexpectedly complicated when Eka sells some of the family’s treasures to buy three train tickets to Paris. Secrets beget secrets beget secrets. The film is slow to get going, but ultimately captures the audience’s hearts and minds. The ending is stunning and extremely satisfying. The acting is brilliant, especially that of Esther Gorinton (90 years old!) as Eka. SINCE OTAR LEFT deserves wider circulation. ~ Nick Salerno

Principal Cast: Esther Gorintin, Nino Khomassouridze, Dinara Droukarova, Temour Kalandadze, Roussoudan Bolkvadze, Sacha Sarichvili, Douta Skhirtladze

Producer: Yaël Fogiel
Cinematographer: Christophe Pollock
Editor: Emmanuelle Castro

Official Website: http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/sinceotarleft/