2003, USA, Republic of Georgia, 85 minutes, English & Georgian

POWER TRIP examines the difficulty involved in transitioning from communism to a free-market society by focusing on the struggle for electricity in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The massive American utility company, AES, comes to Tbilisi to take over Georgia's only existing power company, which was previously owned and operated by the government. At first glance, it seems that the greed of corporate America has once again invaded a small, helpless country just to make a profit. However, it soon becomes clear that AES is sincerely committed to improving the sporadic service and dangerous conditions of the former corrupt suppliers, even in the face of losing $120,000 per day.

AES manager Piers Lewis, who has lived in Tbilisi for six years, has the unpleasant task of teaching his neighbors that in the new free world, customers must pay for their electricity, which in Tbilisi often amounts to two weeks' pay. He graciously tries to work with his customers, all the while keeping a strict policy of "no money, no power," and he is forced to balance his love for the Georgian people with the hardships his company will create for them.

Through his many trips to the region, director Paul Devlin constructs a complex tale involving assassinations, public demonstrations and shady, politically motivated blackouts. Without Devlin's camera documenting the rocky transition, no one would have believed the corruption behind the scenes when the lights went out in Georgia.

- Mary Kerr

Buy Tickets

Buy Tickets

Browse films by Title | Director | Program | Date & Time

home  :   afifest  :   afi silver  :   membership

©2003 American Film Institute