Davit Gabunia presented at the Frankfurt book fair his novel “colors of the night”. With DW, he talks about changes in his country and in the understanding of the role of Georgian men and women.
In Georgia, Davit Gabunia (geb. 1982) a celebrity: He has translated Shakespeare, Strindberg, and “Harry Potter”, a TV series written and is considered the most important playwright in the country. All the major theater awards in Georgia he has already received. His acclaimed first novel “colors of the night” is told in the August also in German (Rowohlt Verlag) – a complex view of the small Caucasus Republic, refined and exciting.
Deutsche Welle: her novel “colors of the night” plays in the year 2012. Which means this year for Georgia?
Davit Gabunia: It means a lot. At that time there was much Trouble and great expectations for the majority of the population. And politically there was a great exchange, because the note of the party, the “National Movement” was called, was suppressed by the United force of the Opposition. You have founded this Association, called “Georgian dream” and made up of different parties. Together, they provided for a new government. It was a brutal Regime to sell the prisoners ill-treated, but nobody more speaks today.
DW: How do you explain that? Why today is no longer for the fate of the prisoners?
Davit Gabunia: Possibly has something to do with the constant disappointments of the society to do. Since 1991, there are riots, political unrest, armed conflicts, wars, poverty and so on. Maybe people are disappointed because nothing changed significantly. Of course there are changes, we live much better today than in the 90s. You can’t compare even to the extent of the poverty at that time and our life today. But regardless of the great debates provoked and then is quickly forgotten.
DW: Prior to 1991, Georgia was part of the Soviet Union, the Russians occupied. Charged to much past on the people?
Davit Gabunia: I think that the Soviet system, the country is heavily damaged and corrupted. It is even more than the crew. Georgia has a very special relationship to Russia. We were ruled by Russia before the Soviet Union, during the entire 19th century. Century. And today, there is still a very special love-hate relationship to Russia. For many people it is quite clear that the threat from the North comes, as they say. But just as many or possibly even longer believe that.
In October 2012, Opposition supporters celebrate the election victory
It’s hard to explain, but over the decades, Russia was the only foreign, it was for us, the only major country, the only better Alternative – so the perception of the Soviet Georgians. Moscow or St. Petersburg dream destinations, the large centers, where everything happens. Everything Good and Beautiful. And you could also buy nice clothes. In the 80s I was a child, but I remember it. This can’t be so easily from the memory of the people delete. And not just from memory. Because I believe that it goes deeper. There is a certain mythology about the Russian-Georgian friendship, the was created in this country, and which is deeper than the memories of older people.
DW: we Come to her novel “colors of the night”. His protagonists are typical for this country?
Davit Gabunia: This is a difficult question! The older man, the official who it is. The high security guard who leads a double life. Since a very young age he has homosexual preferences, but he admits to not even herself. In this respect he is typical. I wanted to draw a character and a biography, all of which are recognizable. Because in Georgia, it is said that there are no Homosexuals in politics. And of course that is a lie.
I try not to think of the big picture behind the stories. Maybe this is wrong, maybe I should. But I believe that ideas or trends, or something in the air, in the poisoned air of this city (Tbilisi, NB. d. editorial). And you inhaled it easy and flow in the stories, without that you noticed it. Therefore, is it true that my characters are children in this geographical Region, children in this society, the reflection of what is happening here and in society in General. But I’m not about to write about my time. It is not intended, it just happens.
DW: your novel is a Thriller and a chamber play, the casually much responsive: politics, homophobia, and the gender ratio. Sura, the Protagonist, and his wife try to live modern: she works, he takes care of the children. This is unusual in Georgia?
Davit Gabunia: As the Soviet system in the 90s, collapsed, there was nothing to eat, and women were forced to emancipate. This was a forced economic emancipation. The women had to stop to just take care of the supply of the family, to say the least. You then came out of their houses and have taken small Jobs. And it is become in more than two decades, something we experience today as the emancipation of women.
The traditional roles, the traditional distribution of power, the men are the providers and women are Housewives, that was in the 70s and 80s, and during the entire Soviet period is typical. But the is over and back to the insecure men who have lost their archaic features as a strong Macho, a fighter, and main-wage earners have remained. Now you are completely confused and don’t know what to do.
Tbilisi 2018
Georgia was not so much a traditional country, with strong Patriarchal structures. The division into male and female is still there. And she is still very pronounced. You can tell she is everywhere. Maybe the reason it is so hard for us, all these changes go through. Because, come on, you are on the way. The borders are open, the Iron curtain is gone, there is the Internet, one gets information and can travel. Now we can even free up a visa in the Schengen area. All of this leads to the fact that life is changing and it will not be like before.