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

A carefree young percussionist roams the streets of Tbilisi, interacting with friends and strangers alike, and tries to avoid responsibilities.

Director:

Otar Iosseliani

Writers:

Dimitri Eristavi, Otar Iosseliani

Stars:

Gela Kandelaki, Gogi Chkheidze, Jansug Kakhidze

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gela Kandelaki	...	Gia Agladze
Gogi Chkheidze
Jansug Kakhidze	...	Dirizher
Irine Jandieri	...	Lia
Elene Landia
Irina Mdivani	...	(as I. Mdivani)
Marina Kartsivadze
Nugzar Erkomaishvili
Irakli Kokrashvili	...	(as I. Qoqrashvili)
Natia Anjaparidze	...	(as N. Andjaparidze)
Dea Ivanidze
Tamari Ishkhneli
T. Gedevanishvili
Revaz Baramidze	...	(as R. Baramidze)
Robert Sturua	...	Soso

Storyline

Gia is a carefree young percussionist who works at a theater in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. He lives in a small apartment with his mother. Gia spends his days flitting from friend to friend, lover to lover, avoiding any responsibility, and never staying still for five minutes. However, he always manages to arrive at the theater just in time to play the drums at the end of the ballet.

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Plot Keywords:

russia | flirtation | drummer | tbilisi | time | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Georgian Russian

Release Date:

11 July 1972 (Soviet Union)

Also Known As:

Once Upon a Time There Was a Singing Blackbird

Company Credits

Production Co:

Georgian-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Erbarme Dich

User Reviews

Little masterpiece

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.