Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling, released in 2012, is an outstanding Georgian film directed by Rusudan Chkonia, and it stars Ia Sukhitashvili, Gia Roinishvili, and Olga Legrand. The film was Georgia's entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, is an enthralling drama set against the harsh reality of a struggling Eastern European nation.

The narrative of Keep Smiling revolves around a beauty pageant for mothers organized by a French-owned broadcast company looking to capitalize on the growing market for reality TV in Georgia. The contest designed for impoverished mothers of large families offers a generous cash grand prize and an apartment to the winner. This lures many poor and desperate mothers, and it's at the auditions we meet our six protagonists, different women with contrasting backgrounds and motivations, each hoping the contest will pave a way out of their crippling life circumstances.

Ia Sukhitashvili portrays Gvantsa, a hopeless, poverty-stricken mother of seven children who's husband is jobless. Her character, strong-willed and spontaneous, mirrors the attendance, each carrying a unique, heartbreaking story. Gia Roinishvili enacts Elene, an educated yet jobless contestant with a background in Journalism and a passion for Lambert Wilson, the French actor. On the other hand, Inga Sukhitashvili plays Tamuna, a woman striving to keep afloat financially with five children and a husband in jail. Olga Legrand delivers a convincing portrayal of Caroline, a model with an estranged husband, trying to regain her career.

The film uses the beauty contest concept as a springboard to explore different facets of Georgian society, particularly emphasizing the struggle and desperation women face within its patriarchal construct. Each character acts as a representative of different trials that women go through, such as domestic violence, poverty, and the social pressure to perpetuate traditional gender roles. Through riveting and emotionally charged performances, the characters confront dilemmas regarding morality, disparity, and survival within an increasingly vicious competition.

As the competition intensifies, backstories unravel and hidden motives, bitterness, and rivalries emerge, the beauty pageant turns into a metaphorical battleground. Each contestant soon discovers the rigors of the competition and the repercussions of the seemingly deceptive façade of assumed comradeship. The contest serves as a microcosm of Georgian society, exposing dire economic conditions, corruption, and the everyday struggles of its women population.

Director Rusudan Chkonia beautifully intertwines social commentary with cinematic aesthetics, employing beautiful cinematography to capture the captivating landscapes of Georgia amidst the ongoing social turmoil. The film seamlessly balances humor with a stark social critique, creating a rich and layered narrative that pokes at the consumerist culture and exploitation disguised in the skin of liberating platforms such as reality television.

Chkonia also employs subtle humor and satire throughout the film to cushion the emotional blows, adding a particular charm to the narrative. The interplay of camaraderie, rivalry, friendship, and betrayal among the women creates an immersive character-driven drama. Furthermore, the movie's tension and unpredictability keep the viewers riveted to their seats, making them deeply invested in the fates of these women.

Keep Smiling serves as a poignant critique of reality television and the ruthless commercialization of personal stories and struggles for entertainment. It sheds light on regressive social norms and barriers, highlighting the resilience and strength of women in the face of adversity. At its core, it’s about strong women trapped in circumstances beyond their control, fighting to keep their dreams alive.

Despite its heavy thematic content, the film manages to retain an element of optimism, symbolically represented in the title 'Keep Smiling.' It pushes the viewers to find moments of joy even amidst despair, thus reasserting the strength of the human spirit to endure and continue to hope.

In this film, Chkonia does an excellent job of presenting significant social issues with sensitivity and depth, showcasing an intriguing spectacle of joy, struggle, sorrow, and hope. The performances from the lead actors are spectacularly realistic and convincing, leaving a lasting impression. For anyone looking to delve into a profound presentation of resilience and womanhood, Keep Smiling is a must-watch.