Watch There Once Was a Singing Blackbird For Free

Excellent but underrated film

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

There Once Was a Singing Blackbird (1970) -- a day in the life of Tbilisi musician Guia Agladze -- expresses a joy of unconstrained living, joking, art, camaraderie, and the pleasures of the flesh that is plainly opposed to the narrow expectations and petty bureaucratic requirements of the People in Charge. In its vision, pacing, and black-and-white cinematography, it is reminiscent of the early Fellini, such as Nights of Cabiria, and the Nouvelle Vague, with a touch of the Marx Brothers and their brand of playful anarchy thrown in for good measure. The camera follows Guia from place to place -- from the cramped apartment he shares with his mother and a pair of visiting Russians, to the theater, to a series of boutiques and restaurants, to the street -- as he does what he does, acting on his impulses, avoiding confrontation, until the day ends and his metaphorical song goes silent.

There are many films which are made,were made and will be made.But the thing to remember is that a film that is a motion picture or a feature film is of no use at all if it just remain a plastic material (plastic film on which a film is shot).In the same manner there are many great filmmakers who don't make film.What they do is to make reality visible on a film.I am thrilled to say that the great Georgian master Otar Iosseliani is one such rare filmmaker who is a great painter of human sentiments on the plastic material.Iko Shashvi Mgalobeli is one of his best works.My personal opinion is that it has ample elements which are common to our daily existence. This is an ideal reason for admiring this film.The essence of this film lies in its championing the cause of simplicity as it is the best human virtue.Have you ever wondered whether a film can have therapeutic effect ? No.In that case please watch this film.Its sad disposition will surely transform you into a mature person.

The main character has no substantial relationships with anyone but especially not with himself. He is constantly fiddling with his hands and partying with acquaintances or flirting with an endless parade of women. He has ambitions to write music and tailor a suit but he's too easily distracted and never finishes anything.Simply put, he lacks introspection. To make that point clear the director has the main character repeatedly peering through scopes, cameras, microscopes and telescopes. He's constantly, obliviously exploring the world around him, but he never contemplates himself. He makes time for and promises favors to anyone and everyone who randomly stumbles into his life, but never has time for himself.He laments to his doctor friend that he's constantly running all day long on various errands but he never gets anything done. He dies tragically in an accident, without ever accomplishing anything in his life.It's a very good movie, but it's confusing to watch the first time because there are many loose ends created by the his random interactions with so many people.Thematicly, it reminds me of Fellini's "La Dolce Vita".

This movie really seemed to sum up many Western (and maybe Russian?) stereotypes of Georgia. I especially liked all the greetings and the car accidents where a hundred people appear out of nowhere to gawk.What is interesting is that, other than the main character, the other characters in the movie appear to be serious and dedicated workers. Gia upholds the quintessential Georgian (once again, according to stereotypes).Incidentally, I was able to rent this movie from Netflix. It comes on the same DVD with another Ioseliani film, Pastorali. There is another DVD with two more Ioseliani movies.Ra vi aba?