Alexandre Koberidze’s “What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?”

What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? (2021)

Poetic, naturalistic romance with magical realist elements is a love letter to the Georgian town of Kutaisi as much as it’s a philosophical fairytale

This simmering, atmospheric romance kicks off with a magic conceit as a curse descends on a couple in a provincial Georgian town. What follows is a contemplative and naturally paced meditation on the ordinary and its adjacency to the extraordinary which is so subtle that most miss that they’re in its presence.

With beautiful cinematography from Faraz Fesharaki that feels natural while invoking documentary films and the work of Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping-Bing on Wong Kar-Wai’s In The Mood For Love. There are moments where transitions are handled so creatively. In once instance, the audience is instructed to close and open their eyes on hearing a tone and the effect is fantastic.

There’s also a communal energy be it groups of people(and dogs) watching a football match or working to prepare a cake which gives us such an insight into the place; this humble town of Kataisi in Georgia. I felt I’d been there by the time the credits had rolled.

This is a beautiful, relaxing sojourn which, like the best holidays, leaves you with happy memories and things to ponder.