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.
