Why “Jara”?
Jara would have never been created without many supporters believing that a lot of people should see the “fairy tale about Ajara”. If not for their financial, physical or other help and support, Jara would remain only an idea.
Why did they wish to take part in creation of Jara and why do they think it very important?
Jara is part of a suite of interventions which include an Alpine Botanical Garden in Goderdzi, human wildlife interface research and work with local municipalities to manage this, Honey Festivals and work with EcoTours to extend their specialist bird watching offer to a more diverse agro tourism (Trailer). Jara has bought together a consortium of donors and interested parties who by consolidating their objectives will add unity and energy to the cause.
Jara will provide the medium for all these efforts to flourish, it will shape the debate, solidify the importance of Ajara as a biodiversity and cultural hotspot and it will stimulate the imaginations and give hope and inspiration to other decision makers in Georgia who will recognize the potential for their own outstanding areas.
The film is also beautiful and moving, a delight to those who will watch it. It is an affirmation of life and of Georgia and Georgian film making talent.
When Nika approached me with the idea for Jara I was delighted and excited as were the team. We had already worked together on The Road ,which had and is still having a pivotal influence on the sheep sector and agriculture and more broadly on local and international perceptions of Georgia. We knew from that first experience how powerful a well- made film could be in changing the meta discussion surrounding an issue. We are also lucky in having a donor who can share this vision.
In Ajara the programme was fully involved in improving the causes of market dysfunction of rural livelihoods based on livestock and honey and a massive part of this was recognizing the link between livelihood and environment and combining the value of this environment as an integral part of the development of the region. Rural tourism, rural development and improved livelihoods for farmers were high on the agenda but somewhat stuck and segmented, the trick has been to integrate these issues and actors under the umbrella of sensitive and thoughtful conservation which can preserve and enhance the assets of rural Ajara whilst benefitting the local population. Jara is part of a suite of interventions which include an Alpine Botanical Garden in Goderdzi, human wildlife interface research and work with local municipalities to manage this, Honey Festivals and work with EcoTours to extend their specialist bird watching offer to a more diverse agro tourism (Trailer). Jara has bought together a consortium of donors and interested parties who by consolidating their objectives will add unity and energy to the cause.
Jara will provide the medium for all these efforts to flourish, it will shape the debate, solidify the importance of Ajara as a biodiversity and cultural hotspot and it will stimulate the imaginations and give hope and inspiration to other decision makers in Georgia who will recognize the potential for their own outstanding areas.
The film is also beautiful and moving, a delight to those who will watch it. It is an affirmation of life and of Georgia and Georgian film making talent.
Such films are needed not only for environmentalists, but for everybody, who has interest and love of nature, who travels, who is not indifferent to all this. This film is equally necessary for population, government and international audience. It makes us think of the wealth we have got, on convergence of nature and traditions, on peaceful coexistence of humans and wild nature.
There are very few such films not only in Georgia, but in the world – films describing harmonic relationship of nature and humans. This is our future, the main strategy of saving the nature of Georgia and Caucasus, assisting sustainable development, demonstrating the harmony and maintaining balanced interaction of man and nature. This is just the cause Jara serves.
It is especially important that the film is being made in Ajara, in a real museum of nature, in the place which has saved and kept more than one species during the glacial period. Even now, in modern times, Ajara is the part of Georgia, which has kept the largest percentage of forest and most of all untouched territories. In spite of lack of land, lots of children and large demand for natural resources, it keeps tradition of careful treatment of nature.
Such films are needed not only for environmentalists, but for everybody, who has interest and love of nature, who travels, who is not indifferent to all this. This film is equally necessary for population, government and international audience. It makes us think of the wealth we have got, on convergence of nature and traditions, on peaceful coexistence of humans and wild nature. And, what is the most important, along with its environmental and aesthetic function on its economic value.
Ajara is real paradise for ecotourists. There are not many almost untouched places like this left in the world. Sea coast and practically tropical jungles are in half an hour driving distance from each other. Seeing thirty-second advertisement video about the country of finding a vague photo in the internet is very different from watching an impressive documentary of aesthetic value, made with high professionalism and showing the whole reality. It is necessary that the world knows about this wealth and this place, which is so easy to get to.
The film is designed for people who are interested in traveling, discovering novelties and new places, wild, untouched nature and bird watching. The documentary fully describes the environment, which makes Ajara region unique from all these points of view.
Jara is one of the 2015 beneficiaries of the Program of Assisting Development of Cinematographic Art in Georgia. All members of the commission have unanimously acknowledged the high quality of the script and the experience of the creative team. They have also recognized benefits the film will bring to Ajara region, advertising it as a place good for filming and attractive for tourism.
It should also be mentioned that Jara tells about traditions, which have probably survived only in Ajara. It is important to describe, cover and popularize them. The film tells in detail about everyday struggle for survival, of population of the region as well as of representatives of unique local flora and fauna.
The film is designed for people who are interested in traveling, discovering novelties and new places, wild, untouched nature and bird watching. The documentary fully describes the environment, which makes Ajara region unique from all these points of view. Watching this film foreign tourists will again (or maybe, for the first time) discover Georgia, will want to travel to the region and see the heroes of the film, representatives of unique flora and fauna of Ajara.
It is very important to demonstrate the region of Ajara in the way it is done in the Jara. With correct marketing it will by all means bring desirable results, from the point of view of economy, popularization of the region and enhancing tourist potential.
As to Jara, it is very good way to get tourists(or potential ones) interested in environment, agriculture and wild nature acquainted with ancient but still alive unique tradition, thus saving it from being forgotten.
PSOVI is environmental association and has often worked on similar projects. We have already obtained quite large experience of mutual relationship of nature and humans. We have been the partners of “Ecofilms” for a long time now.
As to Jara, it is very good way to get tourists(or potential ones) interested in environment, agriculture and wild nature acquainted with ancient but still alive unique tradition, thus saving it from being forgotten.
Jara will be one of the best ways to tell eco tourists all over the world about the existence of mountainous Ajara, with its rich biodiversity and diverse and unique traditions of coexistence of humans and wild nature.
Biodiversity and the traditions of Ajara region are already attracting tourists from all over the world. Landscapes, species, traditions, which they would rarely manage (or would not manage at all) to see elsewhere – are the greatest potential of eco-and agrarian tourism, though it hasn’t reached its full potential yet. The region also includes the third most important migration corridor of birds of prey it is real paradise for birdwatchers
Ask any person: does he/she know how has man domesticated bees? If you tell people that this is still done in mountains of Ajara, some of them will definitely want to see this and to participate in the process. This film will assist not only popularization of unique tradition of bee-keeping or of Georgian honey, but also aid in the development of agrarian tourism, when guests get involved in similar activities themselves and tourists from countries of Western or Northwest Europe will come here to watch migrating birds.
Jara will be one of the best ways to tell eco tourists all over the world about the existence of mountainous Ajara, with its rich biodiversity and diverse and unique traditions of coexistence of humans and wild nature.
The film, such as Jara, is an important tool to attract audience’s attention, who are strongly attached to the power of the cities and navigate their thoughts toward the nature and its unique beauty. The film might inspire them to go out, merge themselves to the spirit and harmony of the nature, which is amazingly portrayed in the film.
It’s been a century since Vazha Pshavela, genius outstanding poet, born in highlands of Georgia, made the nature to speak and the generations to fall in love with our flora and fauna through his writings….Nowadays, when the love of books was replaced by the television and its visual effects, the film, such as Jara, is an important tool to attract audience’s attention, who are strongly attached to the power of the cities and navigate their thoughts toward the nature and its unique beauty. The film might inspire them to go out, merge themselves to the spirit and harmony of the nature, which is amazingly portrayed in the film. The fact that the main characters of the film are the bees, the real creations of God, makes me even more excited, as our Putkara Group also works with the same goal. I wish huge success to the film in reaching the goal for which it was created. Putkara Group will always support such projects.
