Magdana's Donkey

Magdana's Donkey (Georgian: მაგდანას ლურჯა, Russian: Лурджа Магданы, romanized: Lurja magdani) is a 1955 Georgian black-and-white social-themed drama film co-directed by Revaz Chkheidze and Tengiz Abuladze based on a short story of the same name by Ekaterine Gabashvili.

Magdana's Donkey
Directed byRezo Chkheidze, Tengiz Abuladze
Screenplay byCarlo Gogodze
Story byEkaterine Gabashvili
StarringDudukhana Tserodze
CinematographyAlexander Digmelov
Edited byVasil Dolenko
Music byArchil Kereselidze
Production
company
Kartuli filmi
Release date
  • 1955 (1955)
Running time
67 minutes
CountrySoviet Union
LanguageGeorgian

Plot

In a small Georgian village at the beginning of the 20th century(? 1895), a widow (Magdana) and her three children (Sopo, Mikho, and Kato) live in poverty, making ends meet by selling yoghurt in the city. The children find a sick abandoned donkey and bring it back to health and then the family's luck begins to change for the better. Then the donkeys old owner (Mitua) sees the donkey in the city and wants it back.

Production

This film was the debut feature of Tengiz Abuladze and Revaz Chkheidze. Magdana's Donkey was acclaimed as the start of a “new wave” in Soviet cinema.[1]

The leading role (Magdana) was played by Georgian actress Dudukhana Tserodze.[2] The film won the Best Fiction Short award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.[3]

Cast
  • Dudukhana Tserodze as Magdana
  • L. Moistsrapishvili as Sopo (Magdana's older daughter)
  • Mikho Borashvili as Mikho (Magdana's boy)
  • Nani Chikvinidze as Kato (Magdana's younger daughter)
  • Akaki Kvantaliani as Mitua
  • Karlo Sakandelidze as Vano
  • Akaki Vasadze as Village Foreman/Landlord
  • Aleksandre Omiadze as Gigo (Magdana's Father)
  • Aleksandre Takaishvili as Judge

Prizes and awards

References
  1. "Magdanas lurja Lurdzha Magdany (Magdana's Donkey). 1955. Directed by Tengiz Abuladze, Rezo Chkheidze". MoMA. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  2. "Лурджа Магданы // Фильмы // Энциклопедия отечественного кино". 2011.russiancinema.ru. 1956-03-25. Archived from the original on 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  3. "Awards 1956 : All Awards". Cannes. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  4. "Awards 1956 : Competition - Festival de Cannes (International Film Festival)". Festival-cannes.fr. Retrieved 2016-10-08.


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