Late Marriage

Zaza, a 31-year-old PhD student, is feeling the mounting pressure from his family to secure a marriage within the Georgian community. Despite having met nearly a hundred potential brides, he remains undecided, caught between tradition and his personal desires.

Zaza's parents, Yasha and Lili, accompany him to meet Ilana, a 17-year-old high school student. However, the meeting does not result in any decisions, and Zaza continues to grapple with his family's expectations.

After dropping his parents off, Zaza visits a payphone to reach out to his secret girlfriend, Judith, a 34-year-old Moroccan-Israeli divorcée. This phone call represents Zaza’s refuge from the pressures of his familial obligations.

Zaza sneaks into Judith's apartment after her daughter Madona falls asleep. This intimate meeting portrays their deep connection, contrasting sharply with Zaza's challenges at home.

Zaza's parents realize they've forgotten their house key and spend the night with relatives Simon and Margalit. Their concern for Zaza grows when he fails to respond to their calls, leading to speculation about his activities.

Worried about Zaza’s relationship with Judith, some relatives start monitoring her apartment. They believe that Judith, being a divorcée with a child and older than Zaza, is an unacceptable match, and they plan to intimidate her into breaking up with him.

During Zaza's visit to Judith, his relatives confront them in her apartment, attempting to disrupt their bond. The atmosphere becomes tense when Simon brandishes a decorative sword, threatening Judith while Madona watches in fear.

Caught off guard by the family’s intervention, Zaza reluctantly tells Judith that they need to end their relationship. This moment of confusion marks a significant turning point in Zaza's life.

Days later, Zaza's parents visit Judith, where Lili brings a teddy bear for Madona as a peace offering. Judith, emotional and heartbroken, reveals that Zaza had been pleading for her to marry him but has now chosen to prioritize his family over their relationship.

After the visit, Lili's newfound understanding leads her to suggest to Yasha that they should monitor if Zaza eventually moves on from Judith. This acceptance highlights the conflicting sentiments within Zaza’s family regarding tradition and love.

The film culminates in a public restroom where Zaza and his father Yasha prepare for Zaza's wedding. This unconventional setting emphasizes the chaotic yet celebratory nature of the occasion.

At the reception, Zaza delivers a long, clumsy speech while under the influence of alcohol. His humorous declaration of having 'a woman on the side more beautiful than my wife' adds a layer of absurdity to the unfolding celebration.

The wedding celebration concludes with Zaza and his new bride joyfully dancing with their family. This moment captures the warmth of familial bonds, despite the earlier tensions and conflicts.