🎬 North Caucasian Cinema: Pirosmani (Georgiy Shengelaya, 1969)

Georgiy Shengelaya | 1969 | Soviet Georgia | 85’ | EN subtitles

Pirosmani is a biographical film about the great Georgian painter – primitivist Niko Pirosmanashvili (1862-1918). An unknown, self-taught painter roams the streets of a city, painting his pictures. The local people only know that his name is Nikola Pirosmani, that he is a kind and honest person, but nobody takes his painting seriously. To make his living and be able to buy paints, Nikola opens up a food shop. But very soon he goes bankrupt, for he is giving away butter and cheese to anyone who got no money. Already gravely ill, he paints his last picture, imbued with light, joy and love for life.

From September to December 2025, Filmhuis Cavia will screen a selection of films from the North Caucasian region, specifically Chechnya and Georgia. You can find the full program HERE.