The Wishing Tree (1976 film)
| The Wishing Tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tengiz Abuladze |
| Written by | Revaz Inanishvili Tengiz Abuladze |
| Starring | Lika Kavzharadze Soso Jachvliani |
| Cinematography | Lomer Akhvlediani |
| Music by | Bidzina Kvernadze Iakob Bobokhidze |
| Distributed by | Cannon Film (US theatrical) Ruscico (DVD) |
Release date |
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Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | Soviet Union (Georgian SSR) |
| Language | Georgian |
The Wishing Tree (Georgian: ნატვრის ხე, natvris khe, Russian: Древо желания, drevo zhelania) is a 1976 Georgian drama film directed by Tengiz Abuladze. It won the Lenin Prize, the All-Union Film Festival main prize and other prizes. The film is based on Giorgi Leonidze's short stories.
The textures of folk legend and striking visual allegory permeate The Wishing Tree, an episodic pastorale set in a pre-revolutionary Georgian village and spanning four seasons in the lives of various village characters. Some twenty-two stories are woven into the narrative, which centers on a beautiful young woman who is forced to marry a man she does not love; her unsanctioned love for another leads her to ritual disgrace and sacrifice.
Cast[edit]
- Lika Kavzharadze as Marita
- Soso Jachvliani as Gedia
- Zaza Kolelishvili as Shete
- Kote Daushvili as Tsitsikore
- Sofiko Chiaureli as Pupala
- Kakhi Kavsadze as Rebel Ioram
- Otar Megvinetukhutsesi as Elioz
- Erosi Manjgaladze as Bumbula
- Ramaz Chkhikvadze as Priest Okhrokhine
- Gogi Gegechkori as Chachika
- Sesilia Takaishvili as Maradia
- Giorgi Khobua as Batula
- Givi Berikashvili as Padghula
- Jemal Ghaghanidze as Taghria
- Boris Tsipuria as Koria
- Ia Khobua as Mother of Gedia
- Temina Tuaeva as Nargiza
- Dato Papuashvili as Azaria
- Givi Chichinadze as Ipro
- Dato Abashidze as Gaulatsune
- Tina Burbutashvili as Mother of Shete
- Shota Skhirtladze as Herder
Music[edit]
The film score is composed by Georgian composers Bidzina Kvernadze and Iakob Bobokhidze.
Awards[edit]
The film won several film festival prizes.
| Year | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1977 | Main prize of All-Union Film Festival |
| 1977 | Golden aurochs at VI Film festival in Tehran |
| 1978 | Special prize at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival |
| 1979 | Shota Rustaveli Prize |
| 1979 | David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film |
| 1988 | Lenin Prize for Tengiz Abuladze |
