Susa

A quiet young boy weaves his way through the underbelly of contemporary Georgia in this evocative update of the neorealist tradition, which takes some of that genre’s key pieces—a youthful protagonist, nonprofessional actors, and atmospheric locales—and adds Pirveli’s keen eye for detail. With his father in jail, twelve-year-old Susa helps his mother distribute illegal vodka to various hellholes and deadbeats; no matter his situation, though, he hopes for something better. Avoiding pathos and cartoon villainy for a more genuine tone reminiscent of the Dardenne brothers, Susa “beautifully captures the way a crumbling locale permeates the characters’ lives” (Variety).