Tsisperi mtebi anu daujerebeli ambavi (1983)

Director:

Eldar Shengelaya

Writers:

Rezo Cheishvili (screenplay)
Rezo Cheishvili (story)
(more)

Release Date:

October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Cast

Ramaz Giorgobiani	...	Soso
Vasil Kakhniashvili	...	Vaso
Teimuraz Chirgadze	...	Director
Ivane Sakvarelidze	...	Markscheider
Sesilia Takaishvili	...	Molare
Grigol Natsvlishvili	...	Irodioni
V. Mezvrishvili	...	Grisha
O. Guntsadze	...	Mgebavi
Darejan Sumbatashvili	...	Bella (as D. Sumbatashvili)
Zeinab Botsvadze	...	Lali
Nino Tutberidze	...	Mdivani
G. Chkhaidze	...	Shuqri
Mikhail Kokodze	...	Otari
Guram Lortkipanidze	...	Tengizi
Guram Petriashvili	...	Qmari
O. Shotashvili	...	Chachanidze
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Medea Djaparidze	...	Movie star (playing herself)
Lia Eliava	...	Movie star (playing herself)
Lika Kavjaradze	...	Movie star (playing herself)
Otar Koberidze	...	Movie star (playing himself)
Dito Tsintsadze

Directed by
Eldar Shengelaya

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rezo Cheishvili		screenplay
Rezo Cheishvili		story "Tsisperi Mtebi"
Eldar Shengelaya		writer

Produced by
T. Gabunia	....	line producer
M. Tsintsadze	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gia Kancheli

Cinematography by
Levan Paatashvili

Film Editing by
Leonid Ashiani

Production Design by
Boris Tskhakaia

Costume Design by
Medea Baqradze		(as M. Baqradze)

Makeup Department
T. Kacharava	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Barabadze	....	second unit director
Levan Eristavi	....	second unit director
Otar Litanishvili	....	second unit director
Dito Tsintsadze	....	second unit director

Sound Department
Vladimir Nikonov	....	sound

Special Effects by
Omar Bregvadze	....	special effects

Production Companies

• Qartuli Pilmi

Distributors

• Cidif (1988) (Italy) (theatrical)
• International Film Exchange (IFEX) (1986) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• RUSCICO (2004) (worldwide) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Blue Mountains, or Unbelievable Story
Golubye gory, ili nepravdopodobnaya istoriya (Soviet Union: Russian title)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Georgia | Soviet Union

Language:

Georgian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S

Company:

Qartuli Pilmi

"THE TRIAL" as directed by Preston Sturges

BLUE MOUNTAINS, OR AN IMPROBABLE STORY ("Why two titles?") is an absurdist tale in which a novelist takes his latest manuscript to his familiar publishing house, only to have it pushed aside, lost, damaged, stolen, or simply ignored again and again as the employees go about their meaningless, repetitive work. Things start out fairly normal and get gradually stranger as the story continues. As film satires go it's not quite as cunning as Bunuel's best work (which it seems it could have been influenced by) but it's still a funny, sharp and brutally honest jab at the crumbling Soviet government and bureaucratic ineptness in all its forms. Ramaz Giorgobiani's expressionless lead performance is an interesting and eventually necessary realist counterpoint to the often wild and intentionally bloated performances of the bureaucrats. The aforementioned Bunuel is an obvious cinematic connection, as is Fellini's ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL, but as I was watching it I kept thinking this is what might happen if Preston Sturges filmed a Kafka story. Well worth a look.