Since Otar Left

The three women, Eka, Marina, and Ada, live together in a cramped apartment in one of Tbilisi's oldest districts. They struggle with the daily hardships of contemporary Georgian life, dealing with power outages and a deteriorating infrastructure that makes their existence challenging.

Eka, the matriarch, has a deep bond with her son Otar, who has moved to France for better opportunities. He works illegally in construction to support his family back home, and his financial aid is crucial for their survival.

The relationship between Eka and her daughter Marina is strained, showcasing a generational divide. While Eka embraces traditional values and has a fondness for French culture, Ada yearns for Western ideals and dreams of leaving the struggles of Georgia behind.

Despite holding a degree, Marina faces rampant unemployment and resorts to selling family heirlooms at the market. This desperation highlights the economic challenges faced by many in Georgia during this period.

Marina receives heartbreaking news from Otar's friend Niko, revealing that Otar has died in an accident in France. The sisters fear for Eka’s health, as she is fragile and may not withstand such devastating news.

Worried about the potential impact of Otar's death on Eka, Marina and Ada make a pact to conceal the truth. Inspired by the film 'Good Bye Lenin!', they decide to forge letters from Otar to maintain the façade that he is still alive.

As Ada forges letters from Otar, she grapples with the moral implications of their lie. Despite their best efforts to reassure Eka, the growing pressure and the lack of contact from Otar put a strain on the family dynamic.

Eka, growing anxious about Otar's lack of communication, expresses a desire to visit him in France. This prompts Ada and Marina to reluctantly agree, prompting a significant family decision to undertake a trip under false pretenses.

To fund their trip to France, Ada and Marina convince Eka to sell her rare inherited French books. This sacrifice underscores their desperation and hope that the journey will provide clarity regarding Otar's situation.

Upon reaching France, Eka searches for Otar, hoping to reconnect with her son. Her quest leads her to his old apartment, where his neighbors reveal the heartbreaking truth about his tragic demise.

Overwhelmed by grief upon learning the truth about Otar, Eka initially breaks down. Yet, she eventually regains her composure and decides against confronting her family with the harsh reality.

Choosing to protect her daughter and granddaughter, Eka fabricates a story suggesting Otar moved to America to escape challenges in France. This decision underscores her deep maternal instinct to shield them from further pain.

As the family prepares to depart from France, Ada chooses to linger behind at the airport to buy a magazine. In an emotional moment, it becomes clear that she has made the choice to stay in France, symbolizing her longing for a new life.

Eka and Marina board their flight home, oblivious to Ada's decision to remain. Their farewell is poignant, captured through the glass windows of the departure gate, marking a significant change in their family dynamic.