Screening of French film "Le Brio"
By Mariam Chanishvili
Monday, September 23
Within the framework of the French Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, an event, dedicated to issues of tolerance and the fight against discrimination, took place on September 19.
On Thursday, 19 September, the French Embassy in Georgia organized a screening of the French film "Le Brio" with the Council of Europe (CoE) office, at the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgian State University.
Le Brio is a French drama-comedy released in 2017. It has found its way to cinemas outside France a year after it was first released and focuses on prejudices against immigrants and the power of words in relation to the issue. The film shows that it is possible to learn from one another if we only open our eyes and ears and open ourselves to something and someone new.
One could compare this movie to the Dead Poet Society – French version, which picks up the hot topic of immigration, and mixes it up with the typical French dry humor. This also takes the opportunity to not miss teaching the audience about the importance of acceptance.
Promoting peaceful coexistence and tolerance are among the three priorities set by France during the Council of Europe's Presidency until November 2019. For the first time since its accession to the Council of Europe in 1999, Georgia will hold the chairmanship for the next six months. In this context, it is particularly important to remember the values of tolerance, solidarity, and protection of minorities that the Council of Europe has in place.
The chairmanship will be passed from France to Georgia at a meeting in mid-November 2019 at the CoE’s Strasbourg headquarters, attended by representatives of its 47 member states.
Diego Colas, the new ambassador of France in Georgia and the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, Cristian Urse spoke before the screening. They recalled the importance of the values of tolerance, solidarity, equality and protection of minorities, pillars of the Council of Europe, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. 70 years after its foundation, the Council of Europe is our continent's leading human rights organization.
The film, which deals with discrimination by daily prejudices, was welcome by the great success with the public. A discussion led by a representative of the Tolerance and Diversity Institute followed the screening.
