In the Name of Blood
Two brothers plunge into the criminal underworld of Nice, where revenge and faith ignite a deadly showdown.
The superficial glamour and beauty of Nice is stripped away in Akaki Popkhadze’s debut feature.
“In the Name of Blood” is a gripping crime thriller that follows the aftermath of a brutal murder in Nice, where a member of the Georgian community is killed, mistaken for a powerful Russian oligarch. Left to navigate the chaos are Tristan, an aspiring Orthodox priest, and his estranged, vengeance-driven brother Gabriel. As they plunge into the city’s criminal underbelly, they encounter a ruthless local kingpin who forces them to confront their fractured family ties. With themes of faith, revenge and loyalty, the film weaves a complex narrative that explores the darkness of their choices. Shot through a striking lens that immerses the viewer in the gritty reality, it’s a haunting journey of brothers caught between love and bloodshed.
Milani Perera
You can read more about the Georgian special programme here - https://poff.ee/en/news/flowers-are-not-silent/
Akaki Popkhadze (1991) born in Georgia, he grew up in Russia until he was 13 years old. His family then moved to Nice, France. Little by little he learned the French language (aided by devouring Hercule Poirot episodes on TV). His family had a difficult start and very soon he had to earn a living (working as a security agent in the luxury villas, a waiter in nightclubs in Monaco and Saint-Tropez). He studied at the Ecole Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle (ESRA), in Nice – getting back to his childhood dream: making films. In 2017, he wrote and directed “The Sun of the Sleepless” which was also screened at the PÖFF Shorts. In 2018, he wrote and directed “Je vois”, a medium-length film in a single shot-sequence of 36 minutes. It received the Best Director Award at the Copenhagen Film Festival. “In the Name of Blood” (2024) is his first feature film.
Brûle le sang (In the Name of Blood, 2024)