"Vedreba" (Mol'ba) is definitely one of the most impressive movies taken in the 1960s. This B&W production is an extraordinary visual experience and deeply philosophical muse that can leave one speechless for hours. Even if he didn't produce anything else, with this movie Tengiz Abuladze ensured a place in the history of cinematography for himself and for Georgia. I'm sure that "Vedreba" has a lot to say to the contemporary audience, as well, so it's a pity that it is almost unknown today in the West. (So far, I've found its holding in just 2 American university libraries.)
I've seen this movie several years ago in a movie club in Bratislava (Slovakia) so I will omit the details of the plot. The magnificent Caucausan mountains serve as the setting of the story of an age-long blood-spattered enmity between two villages, a Christian and a Moslim. The hero comes into conflict with his own people by insisting on sacrificing to the enemy he has slain in a duel. He is driven by respect for the bravery of his rival and thus goes beyond the apparent duality of concepts - us vs. them, good vs. evil - and traditional values determining the thinking of his fellows. Such an aberration proves to be unacceptable and dangerous to the society so he's forced to leave his home and set for a journey with a tragic ending...
The movie is full of symbolism that seemingly makes it difficult to understand for a non-Georgian viewer (e.g. the poetry of Vaja-Pshavela). However, I'm convinced that its value goes far beyond these cultural elements and that its message about the meaning of man's true greatness is intelligible and applicable to everybody regardless of his cultural background.
I've seen this movie several years ago in a movie club in Bratislava (Slovakia) so I will omit the details of the plot. The magnificent Caucausan mountains serve as the setting of the story of an age-long blood-spattered enmity between two villages, a Christian and a Moslim. The hero comes into conflict with his own people by insisting on sacrificing to the enemy he has slain in a duel. He is driven by respect for the bravery of his rival and thus goes beyond the apparent duality of concepts - us vs. them, good vs. evil - and traditional values determining the thinking of his fellows. Such an aberration proves to be unacceptable and dangerous to the society so he's forced to leave his home and set for a journey with a tragic ending...
The movie is full of symbolism that seemingly makes it difficult to understand for a non-Georgian viewer (e.g. the poetry of Vaja-Pshavela). However, I'm convinced that its value goes far beyond these cultural elements and that its message about the meaning of man's true greatness is intelligible and applicable to everybody regardless of his cultural background.