Product Description

"A compelling and passionate tale of a country rebuilding itself." (Hollywood Reporter) POWER TRIP has "suspense, comedy and some colorful characters" (Variety) and develops into an "increasingly absurdist standoff between Communist-inspired cynicism and tenacious capitalist zeal." (New York Daily News) Five-time Emmy award-winner Paul Devlin (SlamNation, NBC and CBS Olympics) masterfully captures a comic clash of cultures that combusts when an American energy company, AES, tries to transform the dysfunctional electricity distribution system in Tbilisi, capital of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Struggling against a backdrop of corruption, assassination, and street rioting, AES manager Piers Lewis must convince the formerly communist populace to pay for their electricity, while the Georgians, from pensioners to the Energy Minister, devise ingenious ways to get it free. Amidst hot tempers and high drama, Lewis balances his love for the Georgian people with the hardships his company creates for them as they work together to rebuild a nation from the rubble of Soviet collapse. DVD Features: Deleted Scenes; Full-Length Georgian Cartoon; Georgian Public Service Announcements; Biographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83073 in DVD
• Brand: NEW VIDEO GROUP
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English, Georgian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 85 minutes

Features

• Corruption, assassination and street rioting surround the story of the award-winning film, Power Trip, which follows an American multi-national trying to solve the electricity crisis in Tbilisi, capital of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Power Trip provides insight into today's headlines, with a graphic, on-the-ground depiction of the challenges facing globalization in an environment of

Customer Reviews

Well balanced film on the need for electricity and who pays for it.
First off, I'm a "documentary junkie", especially when the director edits the film so that it forms a storyline and doesn't use the film for "propaganda" purposes. When that happens, I don't need to know the subject in advance to seek it out and watch it.

"Power Trip" meets those conditions on all levels. It's recent enough to be current (it takes place between 1998 and 2003). And filmmaker Paul Delvin follows the timeline from when the American Owned energy AES bought the government power company in Soviet state of Georgia until ...... well, I can't tell you or it would spoil the narrative. Like a good filmmaker, Devlin seemed to have his camera at the right place and at the right time and he is able to capture some incidents that were not expected at the time he started his film. Again, it's those surprises that make this film interesting.

"Even handed" and "Well Balanced" are two phrases that come to my mind immediately in describing this film. There are no "good guys" and "bad guys" here. Well, yes there are. The politicians. (the corrupt ones anyway, who are the "bad guys".). But in the fight between the residents of Georgia who find themselves without power (no lights, no TV!) and the employees and President of AES (who are working for a company that can't collect payments for the power that THEY have to purchase), Devlin doesn't point any fingers or take sides.

And the personalities of the employees of AES who are working in foreign counties is fascinating too. You'll remember AAES Manager Piers Lewis long after you've watched this film.

The supplemental material is interesting as well, though not essential to the enjoyment of the film. I'm not reviewing this from a political point of view; just as an example of excellent documentary filmmaking.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

Travel to an Unknown Land
Againt a background of lovely, ethnic folk music (of the region), this is the story of the electrification of the former Soviet Union of Georgia, a land where 90% of the people cannot or will not pay for the power. The events that unfold rival any theatre of the absurd.

Good documentary
What happened when an American company tried to bring electricity to a country formerly part of the USSR is what this doc is all about. The Georgians aren't accustomed to paying for power, but AES is determined to get the money out of them. Though US, most of the company's employees seem to be Brits. Well done.