CHIAROSCURO

• Scriptwriters

  Archil Kikodze, Aleko Tsabadze

• Dop

  Gela Chinchaladze

• Staring

  Ia Sukhitashvili, Giorgi Bochorishvili, Temiko Chichinadze, Mari Kitia, Saba Tsabadze

Synopsis

The world of a 40-year-old movie director is thrown into chaos when he accidentally kills his wife's lover.

About the film

The title Chiaroscuro perfectly encapsulates the core of the film, both in terms of its thematic depth and its visual storytelling. The word itself refers to the artistic technique of using strong contrasts between light and shadow to create a sense of volume in painting. This concept is deeply woven into the fabric of the film and its protagonist, Vato Oniani. This title is a metaphor for the entire film—where light and darkness coexist, where the protagonist struggles between hope and despair, and where visual style reflects the emotional intensity of his journey. By naming the film Chiaroscuro, you convey the essential theme of contrasts—not only in Vato's life but also in the narrative structure, characters development, and cinematography. The title invites the audience to look deeper into the shades of grey that define human existence, making it a title that is both evocative and reflective of the film’s broader artistic and emotional ambitions. **Thematic:** At its heart, Chiaroscuro is a story about the contrast between light and shadow, both metaphorically and literally. Vato’s character is caught between these two extremes—his external success as a filmmaker and his internal disarray from unresolved trauma and moral dilemmas. His personal crisis embodies this light-dark contrast, as he teeters between guilt and redemption, love and betrayal, family duty and self-destruction. Protagonist’s Inner Struggles: Vato represents a man trapped in the shadows of his own past, unable to fully emerge into the light. His childhood trauma, the accidental death, and the crumbling of his personal relationships all form the darker aspects of his life. Yet, his continuing desire to complete his film and find some form of reconciliation with his family represents the light, the hope that still remains. In this way, Chiaroscuro mirrors Vato’s emotional journey of grappling with darkness while searching for clarity and meaning in his chaotic life. **Visual Representation:** The film employs a strong visual contrast, where the use of vivid blues and bloody reds against the backdrop of Tbilisi's modern, fast-paced environment creates an atmosphere heavy with emotional tension. The film-within-the-film segments, shot in a vintage style, further emphasize the chiaroscuro technique, distinguishing the light and dark aspects of Vato’s past and present. This visual duality not only enhances the audience’s emotional connection to Vato but also symbolizes the deeper moral ambiguities and personal conflicts he faces. **Grey Areas:** Just as chiaroscuro in art blurs the boundaries between light and dark, this film examines the grey areas of morality. Vato’s actions—though wrong—are not entirely black and white. His story asks difficult questions about guilt, forgiveness, and whether one can ever escape the shadows of their own past. The title reflects the film’s willingness to dive into these murky areas, avoiding simple moral judgments and instead exploring the complexities of human behaviour.