Ambavi Suramis tsikhitsa (1984)

Directors:

Sergei Parajanov
Dodo Abashidze (co-director)

Writers:

Daniel Chonqadze (book)
Vaja Gigashvili (writer)

Release Date:

17 September 1986 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A film version of a well-known Georgian folk-tale. A young boy has to be immured into the walls of a fortress in order to stop it from crumbling to pieces.

Plot Keywords:

Fortress | Folk Tale | Buried Alive | Georgia vs Russia | Sheep

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Veriko Andjaparidze	...	Fortune Teller
Tamari Tsitsishvili
Dudukhana Tserodze	...	Osman-Agha's Mother
Dodo Abashidze	...	Osman-Agha / Simon
Sofiko Chiaureli	...	Vardo
Zura Kipshidze	...	Durmish-Khan
Levan Uchaneishvili	...	Zurab (as L. Uchaneishvili)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
M. Abaishvili
Leila Alibegashvilli	...	Young Vardo
G. Ambartsumov
Mzia Arabuli		(as M. Arabuli)
L. Arzhanov
T. Arzhanov
Paata Baratashvili		(as P. Baratashvili)
Gia Burjanadze		(as G. Burdzhanadze)
V. Chitishvili
N. Chkseidze
T. Daniela
Nunu Dugladze
O. Dzhaniashvili
Gegi Gujejiani		(as G. Gudzhedziani)
M. Gurgenashvili
Elene Kipshidze		(as E. Kipshidze)
V. Kirilenko
Abesalom Loria
V. Mgoiani
K. Molashksia
O. Odishelidze
S. Santuryan
G. Toksadze
Manana Tskhovrebova
G. Tugushi

Also Known As:

Legenda Suramis tsikheze
Legenda Suramskoy kreposti (Soviet Union: Russian title)
The Legend of the Suram Fortress

Runtime:

88 min | 82 min

Country:

Georgia | Soviet Union

Language:

Georgian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Qartuli Pilmi

Trivia:

This was main director Sergei Parajanov's first film in 15 years, having spent 4 of those in prison on trumped-up charges.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Parajanov: The Last Spring (1992)

Another world

You have to watch this movie with the right attitude. Unfortunately, without preparation, that attitude won't exist during your first viewing. The first viewing of a Paradjanov movie is only there to prepare you for the second, the deeper one.

Anyways, here's how I'd say you watch it: Pretend you're in a museum of classic paintings. You might not understand them, but you'll be transported to other worlds. After all, who cares about meanings? It's the details that matter. In other words, peoples' clothes, rugs, furniture, houses, jewelery, make-up, etc...and the mood created by the style. This movie is a series of paintings. You look at each for a minute or so and move on to the next. The collective impression is what sinks in more that any one image. You're living another life! That's what makes Paradjanov great.

I'd give this movie 10 stars instead of 9 if I SAYAT NOVA(same director) wasn't better.