SAAKASHVILI HANDS HIS OFFICE OVER TO A HOLLYWOOD STAR
Gita Elibekyan

"Radiolur"
09.11.2009 17:30
Tbilisi

The Georgian opposition criticizes the authorities for "ordering a
Hollywood film about the Russian-Georgian war." The opposition says
the film has been produced by President Mikhail Saakashvili and
immense sums have been allocated from the state budget.

The authorities insist they have nothing to do with the idea of the
film. Authors of the film say it’s not a propaganda movie.

Whole Georgia and especially the Parliament and the President’s Office
had been turned into a shooting area over the past few days. For a
few hours Mikhail Saakashvili handed his office over to Hollywood star
Andy Garcia, who plays the part of the Georgian President in the film.

The main episodes of the movie have alreeady been shot. The film’s plot
revolves around an American TV reporter and cameraman who are caught in
the thick of the conflict and are forced to make tough ethical choices.

Director of the film Renny Harlin, best known for "Die Hard 2" and
"Cliffhanger," has said the tale of a journalist and cameraman caught
up in the fighting is an impartial indictment of war.

"We still have to realize one thing. War still continues in different
parts of the world – Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, etc. I want to make a
film that says something about the human condition, and even if only
a few people see this and feel its impact and its anti-war message,
then I will have done something that’s important and I will be proud
of it," Harlin said.

The film telling about the short Russian-Georgian war will be
presented to viewers in spring. Producers say it will be presented
at the Cannes Festival.