Georgian director Tengiz Abuladze's approach highlights a series of relationships between the individual and the society of which he or she is a part, relationships directly related to the history and geographical space that claims them.
The action takes place in Georgia in the early 20th century. Marița, the main heroine, has come here to live with her aunt. She meets a poor young man with whom she falls in love, but her relatives are determined to marry her off to a rich local. Beyond the love story in the movie, you can read the mindset and way of life of early 20th-century Georgia, as well as universally valid issues. By exploring the traditional universe and archaic values, Tengiz Abuladze succeeds in protecting art in a hostile environment: the Soviet communist regime.
