Letters to Max

The eponymous Max is Maxim Gvinjia, former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Abkhazia. Those unfamiliar with Abkhazia are hardly alone: this tiny Black Sea entity seceded from the Republic of Georgia following a 1992-93 civil war, but is only recognized as an independent state by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru. The letters that Max received are from French filmmaker Eric Baudelaire, who uses the old-fashioned notion of postal correspondence as the foundation for his highly original film essay. The texts of Baudelaire's letters—which ask questions about subjects including Gvinjia's unlikely career as the chief diplomat for a country with almost no diplomatic relations, the Abkhazian war of secession, and the nation's shaky independence—are presented against images of Abkhazia. But Gvinjia offers his replies on the soundtrack due to restrictions on Abkhazia's access to the international postal system—mail can be delivered to this location via Georgia, but no country aside from the few that recognize Abkhazia will accept incoming mail from its postal service. The presentation technique is initially awkward, but the questions and answers are often invigorating and surprising, raising intriguing notions regarding sovereignty, identity, and the challenge of being an unlikely pariah among the community of nations. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)