Movieo
Poster for Ashik Kerib

Ashik Kerib

1988 · 1h 16m Drama, Fantasy, History, Music
Directed by Sergei Parajanov , Dodo Abashidze

Seen it?

Overview

Wandering minstrel Ashik Kerib falls in love with a rich merchant's daughter, but is spurned by her father and forced to roam the world for a thousand and one nights. Now presumed dead by those he loves, he performs for the poor and unfortunate on his journeys through the wilderness. Parajanov's visually ravishing 'tableaux vivants' tell Lermontov's romantic tale while Turkish and Azerbaijani folk songs transport us into its mystical landscapes.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
100%
Tomatometer
Fresh

There are coded messages of the tribulations of the artist here, and also a playful, mischievous comedic tone that allays any feeling of self-absorbtion on the director's part. Astonishing.

Wally Hammond, Time Out
Fresh

How Mr. Paradzhanov manages the tricky feat of kidding folk themes yet according them love and respect is his secret. How well he succeeds is here for the rest of us to relish.

Walter Goodman, New York Times
Fresh

[Paradjanov] recreates the past with an exaggerated sense of myth and magic.

Keith Phipps, AV Club
Fresh

Minor Paradjanov would qualify as something very close to major from most other filmmakers.

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films