Sokhumi

Beginning of 90's. Sun-drenched Sokhumi, Georgia buzzes with life as a carefree 12-year-old boy's adventures take a turn when a tourist girl ignites his first love. They spend time together on the streets of this beautiful seaside city, when suddenly war comes in this city. The turmoil of war shatters their fleeting connection lost in the chaos. Years pass, and a 50-year-old man travels back to his war-ravaged city for the first time after his childhood. As he sifts through the rubble of his past, memories resurface, painting forgotten emotions across the scarred landscape.

Director’s statement
Although I didn't grow up in Sukhumi, I spent countless summers there and developed a deep emotional connection to the seaside city. Every street holds memories for me – the cobblestones, the smell of Efkalit, the beach, the Piercy railing with its lanterns, the Amra Cafe, the train station, and more. My animation is not political or about war; it's about a character navigating life-changing events, including war, against the backdrop of Sukhumi. Forced to leave, most of the Sukhumi's population can't return. I want to capture the joy, hope and beauty of the city as I remember it from my summers there. This movie is a nostalgic ode to what we've all lost, whether it's those currently living in Sukhumi under Russian influence or those who had to flee and can't return.