Corn Island

Running time: 101 mins

A tiny seasonal river island, an old man and his granddaughter, the cycle of life - a miracle of cinema. In the Inguri river on the Georgia-Abkhazia border, tiny islands form in the spring, only to vanish later with the onset of winter storms. On one of these spots of arable land an old man and his granddaughter struggle to raise a crop to see them through another winter. Though there is almost no dialog, this timeless Everyman's rough hands, his calm weathered face, and piercing gaze speak with an elegance of dignity that transcends language and culture. Variety called this mesmerizing film "an astonishing feat of cinema...an unparalleled big screen experience." Simple in concept, astounding in execution, this multiple prize-winning film reveals an unrushed profundity. There are few films like it, and none more beautiful. - Charlie Cockey