Don’t Grieve!

Georgian life under imperial rule is marked by rigid class structures and public displays of pride. Debt, imprisonment, and duels drive the plot and force characters to confront personal responsibility. Amid this backdrop, personal redemption emerges through family bonds and acts of care.

The film unfolds in Georgia during its period within the Russian Empire. It depicts a society of nobility, creditors, doctors, innkeepers, and peasants whose lives intersect around debt, honor, and family duty. The landscape features mountainous Georgian towns and urban centers where social status shapes choices and consequences.

🕊️ Redemption

Benjamin’s arc moves from carefree self-indulgence to responsibility and moral growth. He faces humiliation, debt, and the consequences of his choices, and ultimately protects a vulnerable family. The path to redemption involves forgiveness from others and a commitment to those he loves.

❤️ Love

Love complicates social expectations: Mary’s pregnancy with Ishkneli’s child binds her to duty yet spurs secrecy and longing. Benjamin’s pursuit of Margot and his evolving feelings for Mary test loyalties and force painful choices. The relationships reveal how affection collides with class and honor.

🏛️ Honor

Aristocratic authority and social norms exert pressure on every decision. The public humiliation by Prince Vakhvari, the looming debt, and the threat of imprisonment all reflect a society obsessed with status. Characters must navigate disgrace, loyalty, and the cost of upholding or defiantly breaking honor codes.