Kukaracha (or Cucaracha; ) is a 1982 Soviet film directed by Siko Dolidze and Keti Dolidze. It is based on a story by Nodar Dumbadze
Plot Kukaracha was a trustee of the police in one of the districts of Tbilisi. He was loved by the people because he was not just a policeman to them, but also a defender of kindness and morals. One day, Kukaracha receives a threat from a local gang.
Starring Levan Uchaneishvili (Kukaracha) Nineli Chankvetadze (Inga) Zaza Kolelishvili (Murtalo) Mari Janashia (Aniko) Lado Tatishvili Givi Tokhadze Dudukhana Tserodze Lia Kapanadze Tamaz Toloraia Bondo Goginava Grigol Tsitaishvili Ketevan Esaiashvili Omar Gabelia Iamze Tkavadze Jimi Devnozashvili Dato Kublashvili Mikheil Kozakov D. Nafetvaridze D. Tsetskhladze L. Lomsadze Ketevan Murvanidze Akaki Berdzenishvili B. Berdzenishvili Anzor Urdia Nodar Sulemanashvili L. Sulemanashvili Platon Koiava
Production The film is also Siko Dolidze’s last film.
Awards it received the Award for the best adaptation at the 1983 All-Union Film Festival.
Legacy Levan Uchaneishvili’s role in the film was highly praised and considered his most iconic performance. After this, he moved to the United States during the 90s where he portrayed Russian or Eastern European characters, often in action or thriller genres, most notably in the 1997 movie Air Force One where he played one of the terrorists working for Egor Korshunov (Gary Oldman). Other notable roles in American movies are Independence Day, Blade, Virus, Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies (Andrew Divoff and Ilia Volok worked with Levan Uchaneishvili before on Air Force One) and 25th Hour.
The film is considered a good example of the production during the Golden Age of Georgian cinema.
References
Film on web-page of National Filmography of Georgia