Summary
21 October 2009
As Hollywood begins filming in Georgia, people are wondering if the film is actually the latest bit of spin from Georgia about its conflict with Russia in 2008.
Reporter:
Tom Esslemont
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Report
The city of Tbilisi has been turned into a film set. Floodlights beam down on parliament as American and Georgian cast and crew members run amok outside the presidential palace. This
multimillion dollar film, the biggest budget movie ever to be made on Georgian soil, tells the story of a journalist and a camera man caught up in the unfolding drama of the war in 2008. The Georgian government has actively supported the filmmakers by allowing them access to public buildings, but it denies that it is helping to fund the project. One of the producers is a pro-government member of parliament, Papuna Davitaia:
Papuna Davitaia: 'The Georgian government has no role in sponsoring film. Georgian government helps only with permit for shooting and money doesn't come from government.'
The film comes just over a year since the conflict during which time both sides have competed to put their own spin on what happened in August 2008. Then, Russian forces poured into Georgia to repel its attempt to retake the disputed region of South Ossetia. But neither side has ever been able to accept the other's version of events.
In addition to the Hollywood movie, Russian media has reported that the Serbian director, Emir Kusturica, is planning to shoot a screenplay to tell the South Ossetian point of view.
Tom Esslemont, 大象传媒 News
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Vocabulary
- has been turned into a film set
has been transformed or made into a large studio or place where a commercial film is made
- cast and crew members run amok
the film's actors and technicians are moving around quickly in a way that seems dangerous or out of control
- on Georgian soil
in Georgia
- allowing them access
letting them go into
- to fund
to give money to
- permit for shooting
official document allowing the director to make a film
- both sides have competed to put their own spin on what happened
Georgia and Russia are each trying to get the public to believe its interpretation, explanation or opinion of events
- to retake the disputed region
to take control again of an area of land that both countries say belongs to it
- able to accept the other's version of events
can agree on the other country's view of the conflict
- to shoot a screenplay
to make a film
