Don’t Grieve!

Don’t Grieve!

Year: 1968

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: Georgian

Director: Georgiy Daneliya

DramaComedy

Benjamin, the village doctor, is a learned, friendly and democratic figure who habitually treats the poor for free, earning the locals’ affection while leaving his own finances strained. He loves the beautiful Manette, who returns his feelings, but her father—who calls her his “small capital”—strictly guards her chastity until a marriage contract is signed.

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Timeline & Setting – Don’t Grieve! (1968)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Don’t Grieve! (1968). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 19th century

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.

Location

Georgia

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.

🇬🇪 Georgia 🕰️ 19th century 🏛️ Russian Empire

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:27

Main Characters – Don’t Grieve! (1968)

Meet the key characters of Don’t Grieve! (1968), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Benjamin Glonti (Vakhtang Kikabidze)

A carefree young doctor who returns home from St. Petersburg and drifts into revelry. His inability to settle debts and his resistance to marriage set the plot in motion, until his experiences force him to mature and take responsibility for his family.

🎭 Drama 🧭 Character arc 🩺 Doctor

Mary Tsintsadze (Anastasiya Vertinskaya)

Daughter of a wealthy local doctor who becomes entangled with Benjamin and bears Ishkneli’s child. Her life is shaped by secrecy, heartbreak, and the tragedy of losing Mary in childbirth, which becomes a turning point for Benjamin.

❤️ Love 🤰 Pregnancy

Prince Vamekh Vakhvari (Dodo Abashidze)

A domineering aristocrat who humiliates Benjamin and embodies the social power of the nobility. His later confrontation with Benjamin and the public fallout reveal the vulnerability of status and the price of pride.

🏛️ Aristocracy 🗡️ Honor

Sofiko Chiaureli (Sofiko)

Benjamin’s sister, the family’s anchor who bears responsibility for the clan’s welfare. She arranges the meeting with Mary, champions the family’s survival, and even sells their home to secure Benjamin’s release.

👭 Family 🧭 Responsibility

Margot (Lia Gudadze)

Innkeeper’s wife who becomes a focal point of Benjamin’s affections. Her relationship with him contrasts romantic longing with the constraints of social norms and the danger of scandal.

💘 Affair 🏨 Inn

Levan Tsintsadze (Sergo Zakariadze)

An elderly physician whose dying wish to host one last feast becomes a catalyst for reconciliation and the film’s final celebration. He embodies mercy and the wish to leave a lasting, humane legacy.

🩺 Doctor 🎗️ Charity

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:27

Major Themes – Don’t Grieve! (1968)

Explore the central themes of Don’t Grieve! (1968), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ 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.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:27

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Narrative Summary

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Unlock the Full Story of Don’t Grieve!

Don't stop at just watching — explore Don’t Grieve! in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Don’t Grieve! is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Don’t Grieve! Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Don’t Grieve!, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Don’t Grieve! Summary

Don’t Grieve! Timeline

Track the full timeline of Don’t Grieve! with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Don’t Grieve! Timeline

More About Don’t Grieve!

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More About Don’t Grieve!

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