In April 1989, demonstrations were held across Tbilisi, demanding Georgia’s independence from the Soviet Union. On the night of the 9th of April, under orders from Colonel General Igor Rodionov, the Soviet army violently cracked down on the protests, resulting in 21 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The film, titled Titebi, the Georgian word for “tulips,” documents three people’s personal accounts of the 9th of April and the days leading up to it. Offering an intimate picture of the fears, anxieties, and hopes of the protestors, the film renders a more textured narrative than traditional historical accounts have been able to. Titebi probes the memory of the anti-Soviet struggle and is an invaluable resource for peaceful resistance movements today.
