This special screening of Sergei Parajanov's The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985) is presented by Pushkin House in partnership with Klassiki, a video-on-demand platform which is dedicated exclusively to cinema from Eastern Europe. Together, we celebrate a filmmaker who resists belonging to one single national story: born in Tbilisi to Armenian parents, a foundational figure of Ukrainian cinema, and here immersed in Georgian legend, Parajanov's work embodies the deep cultural entanglement of the Caucasus and its neighbouring territories. At a moment when post-Soviet landscapes are being rapidly redrawn, his art – for which the authorities imprisoned him – carries a resonance that only grows.

The screening coincides with Klassiki's online release of Zara Jian's documentary I will revenge this world with Love – S. Paradjanov (2024), now available to watch on their platform.

The screening will be followed by a brief conversation and Q&A with Kira Adibekov of the Armenian Film Society London and Samuel Goff, editorial director at Klassiki.

Marking Sergei Parajanov’s return to filmmaking after 15 years of imprisonment and censorship, The Legend of Suram Fortress is a dazzling reimagining of Georgian national legend. Unfolding across two mirrored storylines, one in the past and one in the present, the film explores religious identity, thwarted romance, and the power of redemption through the tale of a crumbling fortress that can only be saved if a local youth is entombed inside its walls. Parajanov’s syncretic approach to film is as vibrant as ever, drawing on folklore, traditional music and costuming, and medieval painting to construct living tableaux that sing with poetic symbolism. Dedicated to the fight for Georgian independence, this is also the director’s most politically strident film.

The Legend of Suram Fortress
Directed by Sergei Parajanov and Dodo Abashidze
1985
USSR/Georgia
In Georgian with English subtitles

The Garden Cinema, 39-41 Parker St, London WC2B 5PQ.