Merab is told he should hold “like a nail“ and stand “like a statue“ by his trainer. The traditional dance, which is taught at the Georgian National Ballet Academy, is his first serious opportunity: Merab (Levan Gelbakhiani) is aware of that. His dream is to have a spot in the ensemble. The dancer, which Merab was competing with, had to leave after getting caught having sex with a man, so the rumours go. Homosexual love and national dance are still a controversial combination in Georgia, this was also seen in the protests and demonstrations at the film premiere in Tbilisi. AND THEN WE DANCED is classically structured with twists that aren‘t very surprising. Confident Irakli (Bachi Valishvili) is the new guy at the academy, there‘s an encounter between Merab and Irakli followed by a fascination, advances, then insecurity, drama, and hurt. Luckily the film does something different: Levan Gelbakhiani‘s boisterous energy while dancing and the long scenes that show him spinning in the room, his looks that reveal much more than he would like. The attraction between Merab and his counterpart Irakli, the nimbleness of the two protagonists, and the radiant light.

Lili Hering (INDIEKINO MAGAZIN)

Translation: Elinor Lewy