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IMDbPro

The Legend of Suram Fortress

Original title: Ambavi Suramis tsikhitsa
  • 19851985
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2K
YOUR RATING
The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2K
YOUR RATING
    • Sergei Parajanov
    • Dodo Abashidze(co-director)
    • Daniel Chonqadze(book)
    • Vaja Gigashvili
  • Stars
    • Veriko Anjaparidze
    • Tamari Tsitsishvili
    • Dudukhana Tserodze
    • Sergei Parajanov
    • Dodo Abashidze(co-director)
    • Daniel Chonqadze(book)
    • Vaja Gigashvili
  • Stars
    • Veriko Anjaparidze
    • Tamari Tsitsishvili
    • Dudukhana Tserodze
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos48

    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)
    The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985)

    Top cast

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    Veriko Anjaparidze
    Veriko Anjaparidze
    • Fortune Teller
    • (as Veriko Andjaparidze)
    Tamari Tsitsishvili
    Dudukhana Tserodze
    Dudukhana Tserodze
    • Osman-Agha's Mother
    Dodo Abashidze
    Dodo Abashidze
    • Osman-Agha…
    Sofiko Chiaureli
    Sofiko Chiaureli
    • Vardo
    Zura Kipshidze
    Zura Kipshidze
    • Durmish-Khan
    Levani
    Levani
    • Zurab
    • (as L. Uchaneishvili)
    M. Abaishvili
    Leila Alibegashvilli
    • Young Vardo
    G. Ambartsumov
    Mzia Arabuli
      L. Arzhanov
      Toma Arzhanov
        Paata Baratashvili
          Gia Burjanadze
            Vladimer Chitishvili
            Vladimer Chitishvili
              N. Chkseidze
              T. Daniela
                • Sergei Parajanov
                • Dodo Abashidze(co-director)
                • Daniel Chonqadze(book)
                • Vaja Gigashvili
              • All cast & crew
              • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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              Storyline

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              Did you know

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              • Trivia
                Some of the original sound track was destroyed in a fire at the Georgian film archive in Tbilisi.
              • Connections
                Featured in Parajanov: The Last Spring (1992)

              User reviews11

              Review
              Review
              Featured review
              9/10
              Another masterpiece from a great director
              The Georgian/Russian film Ambavi Suramis tsikhitsa (1985) was shown in the U.S. with the translated title The legend of Suram Fortress. The movie was directed by Sergei Parajanov. (Co-directed by Dodo Abashidze.)

              Parajanov's muse, Sofiko Chiaureli, stars as Vardo, a young slave whose lover departs and doesn't return. She becomes a fortune teller, and communicates an old folk legend about what will be required to build Suram Fortress. (Ms. Chiaureli starred in every one of Parajanov's films from 1965.)

              There was actually a Suram Fortress in Georgia, which was built in the 12th Century. However, this movie isn't really about historical events. It's a drama of passion, revenge, religious conflict, and courage.

              This was director Parajanov's first film after he was released from prison. No one could prove that he had actually committed a crime. He was imprisoned because he refused to make films in the Socialist Realism style. Instead, his movies are splashed with intense colors, and almost dreamlike in quality.

              The film is divided into about a dozen segments, which don't necessarily follow in chronological order. Flashbacks abound, and everything looks exotic to our eyes. The haunting music adds to the the exotic quality.

              I've written quite a bit about Parajanov in my review of his earlier movie Sayat Nova/The Color of Pomegranates (1969). Please check out that review for more information if you're interested in this creative genius.

              The Legend of Suram Fortress would work better on a large screen. However, we saw it on DVD, where it worked well enough. The movie has a solid IMDb rating of 7.4. I thought that it was better than that, and rated it 9.
              helpful•1
              0
              • Red-125
              • Jul 14, 2020

              Details

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              • Release date
                • December 3, 1986 (France)
                • Soviet Union
                • Parajanov-Vartanov Institute (United States)
                • Georgian
                • Russian
              • Also known as
              • Production company
                • Georgian-Film
              • See more company credits at IMDbPro

              Technical specs

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              • 1 hour 28 minutes
                • Color
                • Mono

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