The Legend of Suram Fortress (1984) review

Willfully obscure - but gorgeous and meticulously planned and shot - depiction of a famous Georgian story about a fortune teller who instructs her people that in order for the Suram Fortress to stop crumbling, they need to bury a young man in the walls. The 'plot' exists to hold together the arcane but colorful symbolic elements: I'd be lying if I said I knew what every image represented, though it doesn't take complete understanding of the history of the nation to enjoy the scenery, the costumes and odd moments (like mixing eggs and dirt or the soldiers crawling though the field with sheep). I prefer The Color of Pomegranates and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors to this, though with Paradjanov you know you're always getting something unique and remarkable.