Pirosmani (film)

The film tells about episodes from the life of the great Georgian artist Nikola Pirosmanashvili (Pirosmani) . Pirosmani (1862-1918) was self-taught and earned money by making signs and paintings for Tiflis dukhans. An attempt to open a shop and retrain into merchants was unsuccessful. The need that haunted the artist until the end of his life was aggravated by sharp attacks from painters and academics. Despite poverty and non-recognition, Nikola remains true to himself, his work.

In the film, as in many works of Georgian directors of the 1960s - 1970s, the emphasis is on national color. In addition, Shengelaya brings cinema closer to the style of Pirosmani's painting: the entire film is a chain of fairly static episodes that reflect everyday scenes characteristic of the artist's work - feasts, commerce in the shop, and interiors of dukhans. The scenery is simple and goes back to the primitivism of Pirosmani's paintings. The film has virtually no landscape photography. In general, trying to convey the specifics of everyday painting, the director resorts to the theater rather than the cinematic language, breaking the plot narrative into separate episodes-scenes, the action of which often takes place in the same scenery.

The film is especially rich in paintings by Niko Pirosmani, who, in fact, are the same characters as the characters. Dozens of artist's works appear before the viewer; they are not only part of the visual range, but also emphasize the development of the plot. So, during the period of Nikola’s creative activity, paintings literally flood the frame, and as misfortunes fall on the artist, they disappear. One of the last blows of fate is the silent alienation of friends caused by newspaper criticism. And at that moment “Giraffe” appears in the frame - a picture that aroused at the beginning of the film an active interest in the painting of Pirosmani by young futurist artists. And, leaving his friends, the artist takes the picture with him.

• Avtandil Varazi - Niko Pirosmanashvili
• David Abashidze - Vano, friend of Pirosmanashvili
• Zurab Kapianidze - Ushangi, a friend of Pirosmanashvili
• Boris Tsipuria - Dimitry, godfather, co-owner of the shop
• Teymuraz Beridze - Bego, friend of Pirosmanashvili
• Shota Daushvili - husband of the sister of Pirosmanashvili
• Nino Seturidze - a candidate for brides for Pirosmani
• Alexander Rekhviashvili
• Amir Kakabadze - Lado , artist
• Spartak Bagashvili - Karachoheli
• Givi Alexandria
• Maria Gvaramadze
• Rosalia Mincin

1974: International Film Festival in Asolo - Prize for the best biographical film.

1974: IFF in Chicago - Golden Hugo Prize (Grand Prix).

Avtandil Varazi (1926-1977), who played the role of Nikola Pirosmani in the film, was a professional artist (he was also employed in the film as one of the production directors), and not an artist.

• Memories of Avtandil Varazi