-- Dir. Elene Asatiani, Soso Dumbadze - 125min - 2023 - Georgia --

"When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 it became clear to anyone that the aggressor was conducting a hybrid war against Ukraine. It conquered Crimea with a combination of disinformation, propaganda, and secret military support for rebel groups, and covert military operations. The only surprise is that many people were surprised when Russia deployed this military strategy, because it has a long history of doing so.

Limitation examines the involvement of Russia in the 1992 coup d’état that overthrew Zviad Gamsakhurdia, who was elected as Georgia’s first president in 1991. The film draws exclusively on Internet-sourced footage that was shot during the armed rebellion that brought down the head of state. The source for each news item, interview, and report is given, whether that’s the Georgian government, the opposition, international news media, or “unknown.” Each side has its own truth—for the opposition, Gamsakhurdia is a “dictator” and a “Judas.”

Russia, meanwhile, plays a murky but decisive role by arming the opposition with military equipment such as grenade launchers and tanks. Gamsakhurdia’s fate was sealed, and he left the country in 1992." - IDFA