Once Upon a Time There Was a Singing Blackbird (1970) User Reviews

This movie is a tragedy.

[jkirschling-imdb · 8/10 · 24 January 2007]

The main character has no substantial relationships with anyone but especially not with himself. He is constantly fiddling with his hands and partying with acquaintances or flirting with an endless parade of women. He has ambitions to write music and tailor a suit but he's too easily distracted and never finishes anything.

Simply put, he lacks introspection. To make that point clear the director has the main character repeatedly peering through scopes, cameras, microscopes and telescopes. He's constantly, obliviously exploring the world around him, but he never contemplates himself. He makes time for and promises favors to anyone and everyone who randomly stumbles into his life, but never has time for himself.

He laments to his doctor friend that he's constantly running all day long on various errands but he never gets anything done. He dies tragically in an accident, without ever accomplishing anything in his life.

It's a very good movie, but it's confusing to watch the first time because there are many loose ends created by the his random interactions with so many people.

Thematicly, it reminds me of Fellini's "La Dolce Vita".

Black Comedy

[GeneSiskel · 8/10 · 27 February 2010]

There Once Was a Singing Blackbird (1970) -- a day in the life of Tbilisi musician Guia Agladze -- expresses a joy of unconstrained living, joking, art, camaraderie, and the pleasures of the flesh that is plainly opposed to the narrow expectations and petty bureaucratic requirements of the People in Charge. In its vision, pacing, and black-and-white cinematography, it is reminiscent of the early Fellini, such as Nights of Cabiria, and the Nouvelle Vague, with a touch of the Marx Brothers and their brand of playful anarchy thrown in for good measure. The camera follows Guia from place to place -- from the cramped apartment he shares with his mother and a pair of visiting Russians, to the theater, to a series of boutiques and restaurants, to the street -- as he does what he does, acting on his impulses, avoiding confrontation, until the day ends and his metaphorical song goes silent.

The Unbearable Lightness of Cinema

[erec · 5 March 2002]

The communist regime did not like at all Ioseliani's movie, which became "widely" visible only a long time after it was shot. The hero is rather lazy and does not care much about the communist ethos of the time and the ideal of a whole nation at work. The film is about being happy far from a madly competing crowd and Ioseliani's message may also apply to today's capitalistic society.

Excellent film from a Georgian master based in Paris : How can anyone ignore human suffering ?

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 10/10 · 11 July 2007]

There are many films which are made,were made and will be made.But the thing to remember is that a film that is a motion picture or a feature film is of no use at all if it just remain a plastic material (plastic film on which a film is shot).In the same manner there are many great filmmakers who don't make film.What they do is to make reality visible on a film.I am thrilled to say that the great Georgian master Otar Iosseliani is one such rare filmmaker who is a great painter of human sentiments on the plastic material.Iko Shashvi Mgalobeli is one of his best works.My personal opinion is that it has ample elements which are common to our daily existence. This is an ideal reason for admiring this film.The essence of this film lies in its championing the cause of simplicity as it is the best human virtue.Have you ever wondered whether a film can have therapeutic effect ? No.In that case please watch this film.Its sad disposition will surely transform you into a mature person.

life's very own futility

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 5 August 2016]

Otar Iosseliani's "Iko shashvi mgalobeli" ("Once Upon a Time There Was a Singing Blackbird" in English) is essentially a look at the futility of everyday life. Gia, the protagonist, is a percussionist who lives with his mother and has to make it to work every to perform in the orchestra, leaving him little time to interact with people. Such is the reality of life. No matter what the economic system, your job owns you. The end was inevitable: Gia's empty life could lead only to that.

This is the first Otar Iosseliani movie that I've seen. I hope to see more of his work, and I also hope to see more movies from Georgia (the country in the Caucasus, not the US state).

Little masterpiece

[ZbiSal · 18 October 2011]

This is a story from the life of a young man. One evening, one day and one morning.

This young man is a musician. He plays on percussion instruments in theater or opera. He even tries to become a composer but .... We see him in his home working on his composition but it doesn't last long. Then we see him in public reading room. It looks he wants to work seriously but, once again, it doesn't last long. Something else turns his attention and he leaves. His day looks like this: he has many friends in every age and gender, he constantly meets them. One of them he accompanies to the doctor(his another friend), to second one he offers a book, with third one he simply chats, with one of his girlfriends he goes to her job etc. Whether is his hunger for life or simply lack of responsibility it's up to spectator's opinion. On the other hand, he forgets that he promised one visiting couple(who visited him following the recommendation of another friend) that he promised them to show Tbilisi. He tells her mother, criticizing him for that, that he had "a very busy day".

During a concert in theater he leaves early, goes to her aunt's birthday, plays piano to accompany her aunt singing, then leaves in a hurry to play one short solo at the end of the concert. Thats of course infuriates both the conductor and director of the theater. However, he is always on time to deliver a solo ... After concert he goes to restaurant when two groups of his friends claims their right to him. One man is disappointed that he came lately, that left him for the others etc.

He dies next morning after his "busy" day. Hit by a car, stupid and unnecessary death. His composition is unfinished...

One question arises: What did director wanted to say? That life is to short to waste it on stupid stings? That one shouldn't get involved only in petty issues but find a serious occupation?

Maybe yes, maybe now. Clock in last scene may suggest this. But's it up to you to decide.

Sakartvelo Gaumarjos

[zoshchenko · 13 August 2006]

This movie really seemed to sum up many Western (and maybe Russian?) stereotypes of Georgia. I especially liked all the greetings and the car accidents where a hundred people appear out of nowhere to gawk.

What is interesting is that, other than the main character, the other characters in the movie appear to be serious and dedicated workers. Gia upholds the quintessential Georgian (once again, according to stereotypes).

Incidentally, I was able to rent this movie from Netflix. It comes on the same DVD with another Ioseliani film, Pastorali. There is another DVD with two more Ioseliani movies.

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