Избранник (1991)

"Izbrannik" (The Chosen One) is a 1991 drama film from the Soviet Union (modern-day Georgia). The film is directed by Mikhail Kalatozishvili and stars Avtandil Makharadze, Ninel Chankvetadze, Larisa Guzeeva, Luka Khundadze, Maya Bagrationi, Dato Akhobadze, Leo Antadze, Guram Mgaloblishvili, and Gogi Margvelashvili. The story follows the life of a man named Eka (played by Avtandil Makharadze) who is considered a hero in his village for his acts of bravery during World War II. Eka lives a simple life with his wife and children, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he is chosen by the Soviet government to receive special training for a top-secret mission. Eka's training takes him away from his family and his village, and as he becomes more involved in his mission, he starts to question the values and ideologies of the government he is serving. The film explores themes of patriotism, duty, and individuality in the context of Soviet society and politics. The film received critical acclaim and was awarded the Grand Prize at the Kinoshock Film Festival in Anapa, Russia, in 1991. It is considered to be one of the best films produced during the Georgian film industry's "Renaissance" period in the 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. "Izbrannik" is a powerful and thought-provoking film that provides a glimpse into the complex political and social landscape of the Soviet Union in the years leading up to its collapse.