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Ashik Kerib (PG) + introduction by Michael Brooke

Queer 80s

,Cinema 3
A young person playing a lute in traditional clothing, against a desert scape.

Sergei Parajanov’s last film, co-directed by Dodo Abashidze, is an Azeri-Turkish love story about a wandering minstrel forced to roam the world for 1001 nights to win the hand of his beloved. 

Based on a tale by Armenian director Sergei Parajanov’s favourite Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov, Ashik Kerib is a gorgeous fable about a minstrel compelled to travel the Caucasus to earn riches and win the hand of a rich merchant’s daughter. On his travels he is nearly thwarted by a wicked pasha and a cruel sultan (to whom some critics have drawn parallels with Brezhnev and Stalin). 

The viewer may see similarities between the minstrel and Parajanov himself – both are persecuted for forbidden love (Parajanov was jailed for ‘homosexual acts’) and free themselves through art. Shot in Azerbaijan, Ashik Kerib is a glorious tribute to Azeri culture, filled with music, poetry and joy. Although any queerness is necessarily kept at a subtextual level, the film is a feast for the senses and stands as a fitting swan song for a unique director.

Tagged with: Cinema Pride 2024 Queer 80s

Soviet Union 1988 dir Dodo Abashidze, Sergei Parajanov 73 min, in Georgian and Azerbaijani with English subtitles

The film has been restored by Georgian National Film Center.

Michael Brooke

Michael Brooke is a regular contributor to Sight & Sound, the Journal of Film Preservation and numerous Blu-ray labels, whose specialist interests include British and central-eastern European cinema.

‘Filled with lovely details of medieval frescoes and artifacts, sumptuous costumes and stirring folk songs. It is a children's tale as rendered by a sophisticated romantic. ‘
Walter Goodman, New York Times

Explore the rest of Queer 80s

There are plenty of great films screening as part of Queer 80s throughout June

Cinema 3

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.