27 Missing Kisses

27 Missing Kisses is a 2000 Georgian film starring Nutsa Kukhianidze, Evgeniy Sidikhin, and Shalva Iashvili. The movie is directed by Nana Dzhordzhadze and written by Irakli Kvirikadze. It's a quirky artistic blend of comedy and romantic drama that lays bare the pangs and constellations of young love and lust against the backdrop of a picturesque Caucasian town, highlighting the sometimes absurd nature of human desires and relationships.

The narrative of 27 Missing Kisses revolves around a 14-year-old Sybilla (Nutsa Kukhianidze), who is spending her summer in a tranquil country town nestled somewhere in Georgia. This young girl, embodying the essence of adolescent curiosity and burgeoning desire, is at an age where life opens its doors of mystique and relevance. Sybilla’s summer tranquillity is soon interrupted by the arrival of Alexander (Evgeniy Sidikhin), a handsome middle-aged astronomer, and his 14-year-old son Mickey (Shalva Iashvili). The ensuing events weave an intriguing tapestry of young love, adolescent crushes, and comically complicated adult relationships.

A core facet of the narrative is Sybilla’s infatuation with the much older Alexander, shunning the affections of his like-aged son, Mickey, who is in love with her. Mickey’s predicament is reminiscent of a Shakespearean love triangle, further complicated by Alexander's obliviousness to the situation and Sybilla's overwhelmingly charming determination. This daring reciprocation of feelings encompasses the film's overall theme: the intoxicating, confusing, frantic muddle of first love and desire, wrapped in a blanket of light humor and squirming awkwardness.

The film is adorned with an array of colorfully eccentric characters that breathe life into this seemingly sleepy town, making it more engaging. Each character fleshes out this enigmatic environment with his or her idiosyncratic behavior and adds multiple layers to the narrative.

Director Nana Dzhordzhadze’s command over her skill is seen in every frame of the film, becoming apparent in the movie’s vibrant color palette, punctuating the narrative with an almost surreal, dreamy quality. Her playful and deliberate mis-en-scene further exaggerates the essence of youthful curiosity, lust, and blind love. Dzhordzhadze illustrates her characters not as mere vehicles for the plot but as metaphoric representations of universal human conditions, making them relatable to audiences beyond the limitations of culture and geography.

Performances by the cast are compelling, with Nutsa Kukhianidze stealing the show. Her portrayal of Sybilla is truly mesmerizing, successfully capturing the essence of childhood brimming with a woman's desires and determination. Shalva Iashvili portrays Mickey’s heartbreak and adolescent despair beautifully, while Evgeniy Sidikhin embodies the charmingly aloof Alexander with ease.

The film’s setting plays a vital role in supplementing its narrative appeal. The mesmerizing panorama of the Georgian countryside gives it a charmingly eccentric aesthetic, mirroring the lives of its inhabitants. 27 Missing Kisses utilizes its environment to enhance the narrative, using the quaint town and its specific corners, the wide river, and the romantic bridge, to build and develop its characters while breathing life into its stories.

With its captivating narrative, striking performances, and beautiful environmental storytelling, 27 Missing Kisses charmingly encapsulates the frantic whirlpool of emotions, complexities, and absurdities that come with first loves, misplaced affections, and the charm of youth. It's not merely a movie about an adolescent girl’s infatuation but instead, it plays out like a universally relatable comedy-drama of human desires, frustrations, and the countless roads that love can traverse.

27 Missing Kisses is an enchanting watch that lingers in your memory. It’s delightful and frustrating in equal measures, reflecting the very sentiment of what it seeks to capture - love, in all its whimsical, painful, and, sometimes, absurd glory. Recommended for those who enjoy films about the complications and eccentricities of love and youth, this film is a true gem in the world of European cinema.