EndDedicated to the memory
of the Georgian warriors
of all times who have given their lives
for the freedom of their country.
A legend about a young man
entombed alive in a fortress wall,
had inspired the writers Chongadze,
Lordkipanidze and Suliashvili.
We followed in their footsteps.
PROLOGUE
I, the czar and warrior,
equal among you,
am blessing the start of construction
of the Surami Fortress.
THE LEGEND OF THE SURAMI FORTRESS
A Georgia-Film Studio Production
Second Artists Association
Screenplay by
Vazha GIGASHVILI
Directed by Dodo ABASHIDZE
Sergey PARADZHANOV
Director of Photography
Yuri KLIMENKO
Production Designer
Alexander DZHANSHIEV
Costume Designer
Irina MIKATADZE
Music by Dzhansug KAKHIDZE
Sound by Garry KUNTSEV
English Subtitles by
T. KAMENEVA
THE LEGEND OF THE SURAMI FORTRESS
TBILISI
SOUTH GATE
Vardo!
What happened?
We must dance
for the Prince's guests!
Look, the Prince is giving you
a new dress!
Put it on.
I'm not going to dance.
And I don't need his presents!
No, I won't dance.
Vardo, please! The Prince
has given me my freedom!
I'm free!
I'm my own master now!
And what about me, Durmishkhan?
Don't worry.
I'll save some money and buy you out.
Don't leave me!
I'll get rich soon,
and nothing will ever part us again.
Let's go now.
Let's dance for the Prince.
- You'll never come back!
- I will!
- I'm scared.
- Don't be, Gulisvardi.
I have a presentiment.
I'm afraid!
- Let's go!
- No.
- We must do a dance.
- I don't want to!
Dear Vardo, tell
our esteemed guest her fortune.
Who is she going to give birth to,
a boy or a girl?
Mistress, it's a boy.
Ismail, a boy.
Our loyal Durmishkhan,
The Prince is giving you
your freedom
and the stallion
you've raised yourself.
Dear Vardo,
on this day,
so happy for Durmishkhan,
perform for our guests your dance
"How sweet is the water
from the hands of a beloved."
Grand Prince,
I've brought a very bad news.
The Surami Fortress is collapsing
again.
The enemy will burst in the open
gates, our children will die.
It's crumbling! The fortress is
crumbling!
Is there nothing we can do?
Another sacrifice! Sacrifice...
STARTING ON THE ROAD
What is it, my love?
What frightened you?
It's not the first time that the fortress
collapsed.
Don't be afraid, I'm with you.
Let the czar worry about the fortress.
What do we have to care?
- I'm afraid.
- I'll save enough money.
You'll never come back.
I'll be back to buy you out, Vardo.
The fortress is falling down.
It's almost daybreak. Go.
I know you're not coming back.
I must hurry.
Durmishkhan!
Wait! Stop!
Give the horse back!
Stop, in the name of the Prince!
Give the horse back!
No, I won't!
- Give it back!
- No!
The Prince gave him to me.
You stupid slave! The Prince was
just showing off before his guests.
Is he going to take back my freedom
too?
Here, take my dagger!
Take it all! And freedom too!
The Prince doesn't need
your miserable freedom!
Damn you all!
CARAVANSARY
Come here. Come on.
- Who? Me?
- Yes, you.
Come here.
Closer, closer.
- Are you speaking to me?
- Come here, don't be afraid.
- You mean me, sir?
- You, young man, you.
That's how I became free,
but homeless and poor.
You're lucky.
Allah blessed you with freedom,
without spilling any blood.
I've got it at the cost of
eternal suffering.
Listen to my story.
My name is Nodar Zalikashvili.
I'm a Georgian.
You're a Georgian?
CONFESSION
My father was run over by a cart,
and he died.
The Prince had appropriated
our house and vineyard,
and had my mother and me driven
to his estate to be his servants.
One day my master had a guest.
Having drunk so much wine that they
became mad, they laughed in my face.
I couldn't understand
what they wanted,
but I realized
they were mocking at me.
They devised a monstrous game.
I was to toss up pomegranates,
and they cut them with their sabers.
The juice of pomegranates
burned my eyes.
I still hear