The Wishing Tree (film)
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 Wishing Tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tengiz Abuladze |
| Written by | Revaz Inanishvili Tengiz Abuladze |
| Starring | Lika Kavzharadze Soso Jachvliani |
| Music by | Bidzina Kvernadze Iakob Bobokhidze |
| Cinematography | Lomer Akhvlediani |
| 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 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 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 Meghvinetukhutsesi 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
The film score is composed by Georgian composers Bidzina Kvernadze and Iakob 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 |