Paradjanov’s first film after a 15-year enforced hiatus due to imprisonment and persecution, The Legend of Suram Fortress is a magnificent visual tour-de-force with exquisite painterly compositions reminiscent of medieval manuscript illuminations. Based on a legend about the Georgian peoples’ repeated efforts to construct a fortress against invaders and the sacrifice which must be made in order for it to stand, the film unfolds its mythic story in a circular fashion and is a passionate tribute to Georgian culture and folklore. Followed by Paradjanov, The Last Collage. (Leimbacher)