The Wishing Tree (film)
| The Wishing Tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tengiz Abuladze |
| Written by |
Revaz Inanishvili Tengiz Abuladze |
| Starring |
Sofiko Chiaureli Ramaz Chkhikvadze |
| Music by |
Bidzina Kvernadze Jacob Bobokhidze |
| Cinematography | Lomer Akhvlediani |
| Distributed by |
Cannon Film (US theatrical) Ruscico (DVD) |
Release date |
|
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 1977 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
- Lika Kavjaradze as Marita
- Soso Jachvliani as Gedya
- Zaza Kolelishvili as Shete
- Kote Daushvili as Tsitsikore
- Sofiko Chiaureli as Pupala
- Kakhi Kavsadze as Rebel Iorami
- Erosi Manjgaladze as Mumbula
- Otar Megvinetukhutsesi as Ertaozi
- Ramaz Chkhikvadze as Priester Okhrokhine
- Gogi Gegechkori as Chachika
- Sesilia Takaishvili as Maradia
- Giorgi Khobua as Batula
- Givi Berikashvili as Padgula
- Jemal Gaganidze as Tagria
- Boris Tsipuria as Qoria
- Ia Khobua as Mother of Gedia
- Mzia Makhviladze as Ninole
- Dato Papuashvili as Azaria
- Givi Chichinadze as Ipro
- Dato Abashidze as Gaulatsune
- Tina Burbutashvili as Mother of Shete
- Shota Skhirtladze as Herder
Music
The film score is composed by Georgian composers Bidzina Kvernadze and Jacob Bobokhidze.
Awards
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 |