The Wishing Tree (1976 film)
| The Wishing Tree | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Tengiz Abuladze | 
| Written by | Revaz Inanishvili Tengiz Abuladze  | 
| Starring | Lika Kavzharadze Soso Jachvliani  | 
| Cinematography | Lomer Akhvlediani | 
| Music by | Bidzina Kvernadze Iakob Bobokhidze  | 
Production company  | |
| Distributed by | Cannon Film (US theatrical) Ruscico (DVD)  | 
Release date  | 
  | 
Running time  | 107 minutes | 
| Country | Soviet Union (Georgian SSR) | 
| Languages | Georgian, Russian | 
The Wishing Tree (Georgian: ნატვრის ხე, Natvris Khe, Russian: Древо желания, romanized: Drevo Zhelania) is a 1976 Georgian drama film directed by Tengiz Abuladze. It won the Lenin Prize, the All-Union Film Festival main prize and other prizes. The film is based on Giorgi Leonidze's short stories.
The textures of folk legend and striking visual allegory permeate The Wishing Tree, an episodic pastorale set in a pre-revolutionary Georgian village and spanning four seasons in the lives of various village characters. Some twenty-two stories are woven into the narrative, which centers on a beautiful young woman who is forced to marry a man she does not love; her unsanctioned love for another leads her to ritual disgrace and sacrifice.