Once upon a time there was a cult Georgian book (and film based on it). The name of the book was Journey to Karabakh and was written by Aka Morchiladze. Then the film, Trip to Karabakh was made. And this is the piece of Georgian culture that is worth to know. One may even say it’s obligatory to know. That’s why today I will tell you more about it and will reveal why.
I have to confess something. Firstly, I have watched the film Trip to Karabakh. Only after some time, I realized there is a book on which movie was based on – the Journey to Karabakh. More about title differences in a second. What I can say as an excuse is that the film was directed by Levan Tutberidze in 2005. The English version of the book was published 8 years later. The moment when the film had its premiere I hadn’t known Georgian at all.
The warning I have to add now is that there will be a bit of spoilers in today’s Caucasus podcast, but only as many as it’s necessary to introduce you to the Georgian book and film. However, not so many so you’ll still have some fun when reading and watching the story.
When to go on a journey to Karabakh?
The action of the film takes place in the early 90’s. We meet the main characters in Tbilisi, the time when there was a coup d’état and civil war. There are two young Georgians in their early 20’s. The first one, Gio, just split up with the love of his life. She was a prostitute, which did not meet the approval of his family, especially his father. The second one is Goglik. Oh gosh, Gogliko. He is the pure stereotypical Georgian man with the attitude “Don’t worry. Everything will be ok”. The older I am, the more I admire Goglik with his attitude to life. So those two extraordinary men decide to go on a trip to Azerbaijan in order to buy drugs. They are doing it to help their mutual friend, who although cannot travel, is selling drugs in Tbilisi.
It’s worth to mention that Gio is just the typical child from the wealthy and well-situated family, who in the times of the great crisis in Georgia has cellar full of various goods. Also, his father can arrange everything with just one call.
So those fascinating men start their trip (journey) to Azerbaijan. Please remember that this is the time just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when the trade of everything, also something we nowadays perceive as not so legal, was a normal daily business. The main challenge of Gio and Goglik was that they got lost along the way and… end up in Karabakh. Yes, exactly, this is the moment when in Karabakh there is an open and traditional war. They are being arrested by the Azerbaijani police and start the journey that will change their whole life.
This story has it all: the thoughts about freedom and captivity, Georgian easy-going way of life, the territorial conflicts, great dreams, love, lost faith in better future, multinationality and the problems that come along as well as Russian journalists plot.
Aka Morchiladze and why should you know his work?
Journey to Karabakh was the first novel of this author. He wrote it and published in 1992 and since then it has been a bestseller, one of the most famous books of his. Aka Morchiladze has become the legend of Georgian literature and authored over 20 books, all of them valued a lot in Georgia. They have been translated into several languages.
Interesting fact is that Aka Morchiladze is the pen name of Giorgi Akhvlediani, who besides of being a writer is also literature historian and publishes on that topic as well. The Georgian title of the book we talk about today is Mogzauroba Qarabaghshi. That is why in English was translated into Journey to Karabakh. The English translation was published by Dalkey Archive.
However the film title is Gaseirneba Qarabarhshi, therefore the English title is Trip to Karabakh. Using this title you’ll find the movie.
What’s better: film or the book about Karabakh?
There is no one and easy answer to this book. One of the reasons is there are 3 films, not just one. It’s whole triptych, each of them covering different part of modern Georgian (and Karabakh) history. The first part, so the Trip to Karabakh, has the same plot as the book. To some extend I liked the book more, because there are more thoughs, emotions, opinions of Gio described. That would be quite hard to show in a film. On the other hand, the film is more past-paced with more action. And of course the fenomenal creation of Goglik by Misha Meskhi. The Georgian actor you should know.
Trip to Karabakh 2 is set in the times of war in Abkhazia, so a couple years later (but not many). The second part of the title is “Conflict zone”. Our Georgian friends end up on the war front, firstly in Abkhazia. Then they travel to Karabakh having sort of military mission. I call it “sort of a mission”, because it is really set in the military reality of those times. This is the mission to the extend the armies just after the USSR collapse could organize. I would say just this not to spoil too much. In this second part of the Trip to Karabakh film the master creation (besides Goglik of course) is Spartaka – extraordinarily acted role by Zurab Ingorokva.
Trip to Karabakh 3’s subtitle is Bolo Gaseirneba (a bit of Georgian lesson not). It means: The Last Trip. Here the action is set in Georgia after the Rose Revolution. We meet our main characters several years older. This time we discover this new Georgian reality via the eyes of Gogliko, who have been just released from prison and tries to find a place for himself in this new Tbilisi. I have to admit, this was my least favourite part. However recently I have been watching the all three films once again and I matured enough to like it a lot. It shows the changes in Georgia in a quite critical, but truly real way. Obviously there is Karabakh is the story as well. What may be shocking for you if you know a bit the regional reality Karabakh is described here as the escape from new rules that are being created in Georgia.
What I feel obliged to add is that Aka Morchiladze did not participate in writing the script for the second and third part of the Trip to Karabakh. That is why you may feel slight differences in each of them, as both the screenwriters and the directors varied. However this is ihe benefit in my opinion as the times depicted in all the parts were quite different. Hence, it makes sense the way one tells this story changes.
To sum up, if you look for a book and film that will walk you though the modern history of Georgia, this is your first pick or a starting point.
Do you know this book? Or maybe you have watched the film?
Let us know what are your impressions and opinions!
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Thank you for watching and reading the next episode of the Caucasus podcast and see you in the next one.