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5 Days of War is a 2011 war film directed by Renny Harlin.[3] The story is about the Russo-Georgian War[4] over the Russian-backed breakaway autonomous republic of South Ossetia in Georgia, including the events leading up to the conflict.
| 5 Days of War | |
|---|---|
 Official teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Renny Harlin |
| Written by | Mikko Alanne David Battle |
| Produced by | Renny Harlin George Lascu David Imedo Mirza Davitaia Koba Nakopia |
| Starring | Andy García Val Kilmer Richard Coyle Emmanuelle Chriqui Rupert Friend Johnathon Schaech Dean Cain Rade Šerbedžija Antje Traue Heather Graham Mikheil Gomiashvili Mikko Nousiainen |
| Cinematography | Checco Varese |
| Edited by | Brian Berdan |
| Music by | Trevor Rabin |
Production company | RexMedia |
| Distributed by | Anchor Bay Entertainment (US) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English Georgian Russian |
| Budget | $12 million[1] |
| Box office | $316,944[2] |
The film was released in Georgia as 5 Days of August, and in other countries as 5 Days of War and also City on Fire.
Plot
editIn 2007, during the Iraq War, a Georgian contingent of the coalition forces saves the life of American reporter Thomas Anders (Rupert Friend), although one of his colleagues (Heather Graham) is killed in the process. One year later, in 2008, he returns to Los Angeles, California but soon goes to Georgia on the advice of some of his friends in Tbilisi, who suspect that a large conflict is brewing. He, along with his cameraman Sebastian Ganz (Richard Coyle), delve deeper into Georgian life as conflict escalates and they get caught in the crossfire when an air raid strikes a local wedding they stumble upon. With members of the wedding party (Emmanuelle Chriqui), and the help of a Georgian soldier (Johnathon Schaech) who had earlier saved them in Iraq, their mission becomes getting their footage of an atrocity by Russian irregulars out of the country. But they find themselves faced with international apathy due to the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games. Their flight leads them to the Gori.
The film ends with a long series of testimonials from Georgian citizens who lost family members during the conflict.
Cast
edit- Rupert Friend as Thomas Anders, an American reporter
- Emmanuelle Chriqui as Tatia, a young Georgian woman
- Richard Coyle as Sebastian Ganz, an English reporter
- Heather Graham as Miriam, an American reporter in Iraq
- Johnathon Schaech as Rezo Avaliani, a young Georgian officer
- Rade Serbedzija as Col. Alexandr Demidov
- Andy García as Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia
- Val Kilmer as "Dutchman", a journalist[5]
- Mikko Nousiainen as Daniil
- Mikheil Gomiashvili as Anton Medoev, father of Tatia[6]
- Ani Imnadze as Sofi Medoev
- Antje Traue as Zoe, an American reporter
- Kenneth Cranham as Michael Stilton, an English war reporter
- Dean Cain as Chris Bailot, secretary of Saakashvili
- Sergo Shvedkov as Temur Iakobashvili, Georgian Minister of Reintegration
- Steven Robertson as Davit Kezerashvili, Georgian Defense Minister
- Alan McKenna as Alexander Lomaia, Georgian Representative to the U.N.
- Malkhaz Abuladze as Mayor of Tbilisi, Giorgi Ugulava
- Marshall Manesh as Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland, Chairman of the delegation leaders of the former Eastern bloc
- Givi Sikharulidze as Valdas Adamkus, President of Lithuania
- Zura Tsintsqiladze as Valdis Zatlers, President of Latvia
Production
editFilming started in October 2009, in Tbilisi. Filming took 36 days with a budget of 12 million dollars.[1]
According to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, the film was not financed by the Georgian government; however one of the producers, David Imedashvili, said that the initial funding for the project came from a Georgian government fund.[7] According to Georgian media the movie was financed by Koba Nakopia,[8] a parliamentarian from the ruling United National Movement[9] party of Saakashvili. Also credited as producer are director Renny Harlin, George Lascu and Mirza Davitaia, who served as Georgian State Minister for "diaspora issues" from 2009 to 2012, who at the time of filming was the Georgian Deputy Minister, Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sports.[10][11][12]
One of the buildings of the Georgian Presidential administration was used for filming parts of 5 Days of War. Some members of the special effects team were Russian and had previously worked on Night Watch. The military equipment and personnel used in the film were lent by the Georgian army.[13]
Release
edit- The film first premiered in Tbilisi, Georgia on June 5, 2011 and was attended by the participating actors, as well as actress Sharon Stone, who helped raise approximately $1 million during the subsequent fundraiser for the victims of the Russo-Georgian war.[14][15][16]
- London, England, June 9, 2011[17][18]
- Georgia, June 6, 2011[19]
- United States, August 19, 2011[20]
- Poland, April 27, 2012[21]
Reception
editOn review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 34% based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 4.44/10.[22] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 31 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[23] Both Bloomberg and The Washington Post gave it a one-star rating.[24][25]
5 Days of War opened in limited release in the United States on August 19, 2011 in two theatres in New York City and Washington D.C. It grossed $6,254 in its opening weekend.[26]
The film was vehemently denounced by the government of South Ossetia with their Minister of Media, Georgiy Kabisov, calling it "Hitler propaganda" and the people that made it as "Nazis." Kabisov also went on to say that the Georgian people and government where "spiteful aggressors" and that the film rejects the "truth" of the war.[27]
Home media
edit5 Days of War was released on DVD (Region 2)[28] and Blu-ray (Region B)[29] on June 13, 2011.[30] The DVD is a one-disc set. The Blu-ray is a one-disc set that includes DTS-HD 5.1 sound, as well as subtitles, in English, German and French.[31]
References
edit- ^ a b Savage, Luke (27 May 2009). "Renny Harlin interview: 5 Days Of War, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and directing low-budget war films". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ "5 DAYS OF WAR". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 122. ISBN 978-1908215017.
- ^ "Renny Harlin Exclusive Interview". June 14, 2011. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2011.
- ^ Lomsadze, Giorgi; Mizante, Sophia (October 21, 2009). "Georgia: Hollywood takes over Tbilisi for film about war with Russia". Georgian Daily reprinted from Eurasianet.org. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ^ "Mikheil Gomiashvili". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
- ^ Shuster, Simon (December 4, 2009). "Russia and Georgia Go to War Again — on Screen". Time. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
- ^ "Media.ge". Media.ge. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ "საქართველოს პარლამენტი". Parliament.ge. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ "Cannes - 19th May". www.thebusinessoffilmdaily.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ "Hollywood's take on the Russia-Georgia war". economist.com. June 21, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
- ^ "5 Days of August: High on beauty, short on substance?". Georgian America. Georgia Today. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ "An Exclusive Interview With Renny Harlin on 5 Days of War". Heyuguys.co.uk. June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ Sharon Stone's charity evening in Tbilisi collects about $1 million Retrieved: June 14, 2011
- ^ ""5 Days of August" Premiere in Tbilisi, Georgia - Movie Premieres". Zimbio. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "Check out the crowd at the premiere of 5 Days of War in Tbili... on Twitpic". Twitpic.com. June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "5 Days of War - Premiere Report on MSN Video". Video.uk.msn.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "5 Days of War London Premiere Pictures". Monsters and Critics. June 9, 2011. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "Показ "Пять дней августа" в кинотеатрах Тбилиси продлится около месяца | Культура | Новости-Грузия". Newsgeorgia.ru. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "5 Days of War - Directed by Renny Harlin | Rupert Friend, Val Kilmer, Andy Garcia, Dean Cain, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Heather Graham | Film". indieWIRE. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "5 dni wojny". Filmweb.pl. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
- ^ "5 Days of War (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ "5 Days of War Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- ^ Warner, Rick (August 19, 2011). "Renny Harlin's Phony Russian Baddies". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ DeFore, John (August 19, 2011). "5 Days of War". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ "5 Days of War (2011)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Georgy Kabisov: Everybody knows who is an aggressor – including the West". State Information Agency. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Five Days of War [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Rupert Friend, Emmanuelle Chirqui, Richard Coyle, Val Kilmer, Andy Garcia, Renny Harlin, Mikko Alanne: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. September 9, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "Five Days of War [Blu-ray]: Amazon.co.uk: Rupert Friend, Emmanuelle Chirqui, Richard Coyle, Val Kilmer, Andy Garcia, Renny Harlin, Mikko Alanne: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. September 9, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "5 Days of War – DVD Review". Heyuguys.co.uk. June 13, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
- ^ "5 Days of War". Amazon Germany. Retrieved June 9, 2011.