Maidan, Nave of the World

Maidan, Nave of the World is about the love of an Old World place, a forgotten neighborhood in Tbilisi, capital of the Georgian Republic. Dato Janelidze’s painterly camera presents an astonishingly luscious landscape of Maidan’s timeless, careworn streets and alleys. Though frayed and fatigued, Maidan beckons with the allure of a proud dowager who now has more charm than beauty to offer. More importantly, Maidan illustrates the ancient peace it keeps among its eccentric and humble inhabitants. Muslims, Jews, Christians and Orthodox continue to live together as they always have--sharing their rituals, sharing their languages and sharing their love and respect for their obscure corner of the world. At its heart, Maidan, Nave of the World is about the love of cinema itself and the pure magic of light dancing on a screen.

Born 1958, Tbilisi, Georgia, Dato Janelidze studied at Georgian Institute of Theatre and Cinema, then worked at the film studio "Georgia Film." He has been working for Georgian television and teaching at the above institute. His films have been shown at many festivals. Filmography: Absurd Story (1982, short), Lodgers (1990), The Caste (1994), Maidan, Nave of the World (2004).