About

Prophecy, vengeance, and oblique critiques of crumbling empires abound in this vibrant adaption of an ancient Georgian folktale. Made after 15 years of censorship by the Soviet Union, The Legend of Suram Fortress marked Sergei Parajanov’s return to filmmaking in collaboration with co-director Dodo Abashidze. Told through alternating plots, the film follows life in a far-flung town where stories of a jilted lover, and conversions between Christianity and Islam intermingle with that of villagers struggling with a cursed project to build a fortress against invaders. Again and again the fortress collapses, until a soothsayer predicts that a blue-eyed young man must sacrifice his life to stabilise its foundations. This opulent homage the rich heritage of Georgia, Parajanov’s country of birth, overflows with exquisite tableaux and costuming.

Ages 15+