Taming the Garden (2021) Movie Script

1
That's enough!
He's deaf as a doorpost.
Doesn't hear a thing.
Let's tip it.
I've had it with you lot!
Lift it up.
Do you know the story of
the old woman and the tree?
- The tree story?
- I don't.
The story goes like...
This villager has a big
tree in a mandarine orchard.
So this orchard is clearly
important, the tree isn't.
The owner is always
cutting back the branches...
because the mandarines
are in the shade.
He can't cut it down either.
That would damage the orchard.
So this tree is his big problem.
When all this stuff starts,
the guy is heavily in debt.
So he goes to the
bank to defer the loans...
leaving his elderly mother
at home. And just then...
...the lawyers
come to buy the tree.
They say, Granny, we
want to take this tree!
Would you sell it to us?
How much do you want for it?
So the Granny says, I don't know...
Give me 400! She wanted 400 Lari.
The lawyer says...
Granny, 400000 is too
much! We'll give you 40000!
The Granny's been
cursing this tree all her life...
because it put the
orchard in shade!
Tree, dry up...
They tried to kill it, made
a hole in the trunk and...
poured some stuff in it, but the tree
carried on growing more beautiful.
She just said 400. She
meant 400 Lari by that.
The Granny went nuts!
They gave her 40000 dollars.
Go on. Stretch it.
Yes. Go. Go more.
Go and be careful.
It will be warm!
It won't get cold.
Nugzar, make sure
you fold it neatly.
Come on now, man!
Move your ass! Will you!
We'll be at this all night! I
need to go to the doctor's!
Fuck it.
Why the doctor?
My eye is hurting.
Throw me the hammer.
Bang it right in.
That's it.
He came 3 times to check it out.
With a little dog
with a red ribbon.
He went around the yard,
but mainly looked at the tree.
Then nothing. He just
got in the car and left.
He didn't speak with anybody.
That man really likes trees!
He would have done it a long time
ago. But he didn't have the people.
He's never taken
one as big as this!
It's wrong telling he's
taken a bigger tree.
His dog is
interesting, by the way.
It ran away, you remember?
It was called Bacho.
When he got out of the
car, he left the door open.
They chased it.
It jumped back in the car.
He sat in the front
seat the other day too.
It's a trained dog.
- What?
- It's trained.
Trained? For what?
So what can it do?
- Guns.
- What? Guns?
It does something with guns.
- Bullshit...
- All his guards have guns!
I still don't understand
why he's doing this!
Why's he doing it?
Who is he doing it for?
- It's an interesting question.
- No one would have expected it.
That's cool! Suddenly
you get money from a tree.
- And when he has all the trees?
- Then he'll go after birds!
A bit lower!
- It's been one and a half months.
- In total two months?
Longer. We're doing
other trees in between.
- But this one is taking longest.
- Maybe three months...
Three...
Six...
Seven... eight...
But this one was the heaviest.
And that one down the hill.
- Three months...
- In three months?
Why complaining?
The tree over there is 1000
tonnes. Bigger than a house...
This one's great. And that
one of Kvirike was super great.
- Why didn't you marry him?
- What?
She complained about getting
old. She should have married him.
She has her own troubles!
The most beautiful
tree was Kvirike's.
The Surmava' tree
was also special.
I was digging it up in Natanebi.
That tree was unique.
This one's good as well.
- What tree was it?
- Beech.
The Kvirike tree was the best.
The Kvirike tree was
great. It was wonderful.
Like that other one.
With a forked trunk.
Only that the roots
are different. Seriously.
For 10 metres around it
it had these huge roots.
...They were all intertwined...
- At the top, right?
- ...like a net.
- It's pretty.
The roots were like a
15 metres net around it.
It's so beautiful when
you look at it, right?
What can you do?
Life takes some strange turns.
It has ups and downs. .
- What shall we do there?
- Where?
Put it here.
Move aside.
Stick it in.
It doesn't go any more.
Let me do it.
It is heavy. Lift it.
You're on it now.
Now you lift it and push it.
It must be manganese!
One last push!
Then we've done it!
One...Two... Bring it on, guys!
Do not let me down,
guys! Bring it on!
- Leave it.
- I count on you!
- Go on! Don't be weak!
- Wait...
Are you sure it's
deep after that point?
It carries on much the same.
Where you see the
murky water, that's shallow.
It's murky because it's low.
After that the bottom drops.
- And no more sand banks?
- No, it's clear.
Behind the sand bank it stays
one and a half metres deep...
After 90 metres... there's
a 30-metre sand bank.
It's about 70 metres
to the first deeper part.
That lasts for 20 metres.
- It's at least one metre 70.
- OK, we'll manage.
He saw me hanging
around. So he thought...
What could you gain?
The road doesn't touch my land.
They put in the boulders to hold
the road. As an extra measure.
They said it would
benefit everyone.
- As if it were harmful!
- Yes.
And why would they give me money
too? That's rubbish! Put it in here.
- He was suspicious...
- What?
He was suspicious of you
because you were doing things...
Fucking idiot!
Being an idiot is
for the whole life.
I can't cut out their tongues...
Let them gossip!
After all, what is
it with these trees?
It's none of my
business. Or yours.
They're doing the road, so...
Do you miss any trees here?
Is it more difficult
to breathe now?
No, it's the other way round! This
man is making quality roads for us!
All in return for taking
trees from the woods!
No matter how much of a villain
he is, at least he's doing something!
It's ungrateful not to see that!
It's ungrateful to
listen to those idiots!
They say they'd rather
have a tree than a road!
Thy never gave a
shit about trees before.
You've been there, right?
There was just forest there.
And he's making a road!
Who gives a fuck about trees!
It's ungrateful not to see he is
doing things. You can't ignore that.
It's no-one's business
what he's paying for.
It's not coming from
anyone else's pockets.
Don't tell me the biggest waste
of taxpayers' money is these trees!
It's his own money and
he didn't get it from us.
He can spend his money
on whatever he likes.
Whether he's planting it
for his children or the state...
we'll never see it.
I read somewhere in the
newspapers that it prolongs his life.
As long as the tree is over a
century old. That's what they said.
I don't know...
So Ivanishvili is now
60 or 62 years old.
The newspapers said he
would live to be 80 or 90.
The road is the
most important thing.
I don't know...
We live on a dangerous
hill. We really need the road.
No one will do your road!
They'll cut down your
tree, promise you money...
They'll delay and
clear off. Bye, Bye!
So first make sure you get
cash! If you can't, I'll talk to them.
I fought for those 4 000 Lari and
you now feel ashamed asking for it!
I won't stay if there will be no
road. I suffer walking up here!
Who'll make you the
road?! No one will!
They cut seven metres from my
land, right in front of my house...
They came to measure five times,
but nothing! It's been years now!
Nobody will do nothing now.
I've lasted 90 years already!
I'll get my good stick
made of acacia wood.
I'll bash their heads
until they bleed!
What are you doing, Vano?
We're ready to
cut back the tree.
Where are the pipes?
I'll measure it now...
Bring the 30-metre
tape measure, Temur!
Bring me the damn ruler, man.
It goes right this way...
It was just covered.
No damage, no problem.
But if you harm the
orchard, I'll ask for 10 000.
Even if one branch falls.
The blame will be on
us for not to be paid.
Tell them to come
and we negotiate.
Leave it.
- Having a nice rest?
- Yeah, right.
- Will he get them?
- That's what he said.
They say they already paid
me. But that was for the big tree.
They've paid you.
What else do you want?
Did I ask you to come? Did I
bring Ivanishvili here myself?
I told you about the saplings.
You knew we'd have to chop some!
They need to negotiate.
I know you wanted this
tree to just vanish from here.
- Yes I did!
- If you'd cut the tree down,
you wouldn't have
the 50 000 dollars!
But it is OK to bully me
and take this by force?
Why by force? You
signed the contract!
- I signed it and can cancel it too!
- No you can't.
I've been a lawyer for 20
years. Look, it says here:
"With his signature, the owner
cedes all rights to the property."
That's it! It's mine now!
- Aren't you cold, Neli?
- Freezing! But what can you do?
At least cover your head!
That's it.
- Have you got warm socks?
- Yes, I have.
Look, it started... it moved!
- What's that?
- The tree!
- Move back, kid!
- All the best...
Get there safely!
Move back! It might fall!
Why did it stop?
What's going on?
It went up, up, up...
So curious...
It's so beautiful in
the night, isn't it?
It's like a fairytale.
- If Datiko were alive...
- I wish he could see it!
I heard that when
they deliver it there...
they'll cut the
branches even more.
They have also cut
the branches here.
The problem isn't the branches.
It's the base! It's just too big.
This is so heavy! God help me!
He knows himself that
it won't survive there.
But he's taking it deliberately!
This one is so magnificent.
You probably got used to it...
looking at it everyday... It
has become so ugly now.
This magnificent tree,
so fertile, with its moss...
Incredible what's going on here.
No, this tree... Impossible!
Wait, please don't
go close, Tamta!
- Don't worry!
- Hold on, Tamta!
Mother! Calm down!
Don't get too close!
They smashed it!
He doesn't give a
shit about anything!
He does what he wants!
Whatever he pleases!
When I heard the noise, I
thought it had hit Eliko's fence.
Eliko thinks this tree will
bloom again. Fat chance!
It won't survive.
God, bring peace!
He's holding it in his hands!
- The cable.
- My God!
It's shrunk so much, Inga.
They trimmed the branches!
But I don't mean that!
The trunk used
to be much fuller...
How beautiful it was, Lamara.
The beauty of our district!
- Many generations grew up under it!
- And so many played under it!
And this is how it ends!
Everything passes,
it's all gone now!
Just die!
It's up to you. It's your wish.
I'm happy with its
chestnuts every year.
I harvest them every year.
The harvest is always good.
- We wouldn't sell it for firewood.
- Oh no! No firewood!
It's too precious!
You want to take it
with the roots, so...
Cutting it for wood
would be a shame.
- No. Not for wood.
- This tree has been through a lot.
That branch was broken by wind.
Otherwise it's in good shape.
So if you want it...
So if you want
it, I won't say no!
What's the use of this dog?
My Granny and
Grandpa planted the tree.
- Hello to you!
- Hello! Hello!
Be careful they don't
take you with your tree!
This fucking cigarette
isn't even burning!
My first cigarette in 30 years.
I don't want to go to jail
or to war with someone.
Absolutely not.
But they're forcing me
to do something bad.
And if they force me, they'll get
it. Because I won't compromise.
Don't say anything bad!
To move it down the road, trees
on both sides have to be cut down.
They came to me, no lie...
and said, they'll cut
down three trees.
And give you 500 Lari.
What use is their 500 Lari?
What a joke!
What a joke!
I can cut a couple
of heads off easily.
And then Ivanishvili can hold them in
his armpits and walk around with them!
I'll go for death, and won't
let Ivanishvili's workers pass!
- Enough!
- I won't let them pass!
Dato, come on, you've
said enough now! David!
Will they cut it?
Yes. But the
cable is in the way.
After that big tree there's one
more branch that might be in the way.
That's it. It's done now.
- The yard is so bare now.
- At least Maya will have a rest!
- I'm sad about the flowers.
- But we'll get to rest too!
The tree always
made so much rubbish.
Why do these trees have to suffer?
Just so Ivanishvili can have his tree!
They will pocket a
lot of money from this.
Don't you believe me?
I'm suspicious. They will
say they had to pay us out....
and then pocket our money.
I might be stupid,
but not that stupid!
Did they say after measuring
it would obstruct the way?
- Yes, sure.
- Motheruckers...
Of course!
...and they will cut
it down completely?
They said something
about moving it...
but I made a fence there
and everything will be broken.
They tell you
something and then...
This isn't just
another dead tree!
It's a century old tree!
They tell you things, girl and
take it to the woodworking.
- It must be 60 years old!
- What? 60?
I am 60 myself!
I think it must be
150 years old, uncle.
No way! I'm 60 now.
It's not an ordinary tree.
Don't let them cut
below the middle.
Then it will bloom again.
We were told, we had to decide.
We cannot carry it anywhere.
Why didn't you make them cut this.
- Iago.
- Yes...
Iago, drag it over there.
Don't you have a wire fence?
- Wire fence?
- No.
I'll board it up...
Will you chop it down? What
will you do with this now?
- Bring us tools and we'll do it.
- I'll manage!
- What will you do?
- I'll stick a pole here!
Let's close the gates now.
Motherfuckers...
What shall we do
with so many remains?
It won't close.
Where shall we take them?
With the car parked here,
they will have shade now.
We had very good shade here.
Don't worry. This
year it will stay bad.
Next year will be bad. But after that,
you'll be surprised by all the leaves!
But will I really be
alive in another2 years?
Long life to you.
I was 25 when I
planted these trees!
Will I be alive in 2 years?
You'll live to be 100!
We've just finished.
Are you coming
here by any chance?
Why are you saying
these things, Auntie?
I always cut my trees back.
Every five years they need cutting.
I have pear that's just as big.
I don't know what to do with it.
But do you know how
windy it gets here?
I wish I could just cut it down!
The wind is why the
trees were planted here.
Otherwise we know
how to cut them down.
This woman was the one
who planted them here!
OK, I get it...
Everything we do in this life
will be weighed up in the next life.
I didn't cut it to the base.
Why do you speak
to me like this?
What's important I
didn't cut it to the base.
- Dad, are you OK?
- Why shouldn't I be?
Come on, what is
there to cry about?
I am so upset!
Is that enough?