In a remote Georgian village, a search for a mythical tree ends in tragedy.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Tengiz Abuladze’s 1976 masterpiece, The Wishing Tree, weaves twenty-two folk tales into a haunting pastoral narrative. Set in a pre-revolutionary Georgian village, the film explores the collision between rigid social expectations and individual desire, culminating in a devastating act of public humiliation that seals the fate of two young lovers.

The Wishing Tree, or Natvris Khe, is a visually striking drama that captures the unhurried, rhythmic life of a rural Georgian community. Based on the novellas of Giorgi Leonidze, the film functions as an episodic tapestry, blending folk legend with allegory. It follows the story of Marita, a young woman whose return to her village sparks a forbidden romance with a poor villager named Gedia. This connection defies the plans of her relatives and the village elder, who insist she marry a wealthy suitor instead.

The narrative is populated by a cast of vivid, eccentric characters, including the self-proclaimed aristocrat Fufala and the philosopher Bumbula, who endure the mockery of local children. Central to the film’s thematic depth is the figure of Elioz, a holy fool who wanders through snowy forests in a perpetual, fruitless search for the magical Tree of Desire. His quest mirrors the broader human struggle for meaning and fulfillment within a society governed by harsh, unyielding traditions.

The conflict reaches a breaking point when Marita and Gedia’s reunion is discovered by her husband’s family. Under the authority of the village elder, Marita is subjected to a brutal ritual of public disgrace: she is paraded backward on a donkey while being pelted with mud. This act of cruelty leads to a tragic conclusion, resulting in the deaths of the lovers. Through its masterful direction and a score composed by Bidzina Kvernadze and Iakob Bobokhidze, the film offers a profound meditation on sacrifice and the crushing weight of social conformity.

Upon its release, the film garnered significant critical acclaim, securing the Lenin Prize and the top award at the All-Union Film Festival. By grounding its story in the specific textures of pre-revolutionary Georgian life, Abuladze created a work that transcends its local setting to address universal themes of love, loss, and the elusive nature of our deepest desires.

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