Gabriadze Revaz

Revaz Gabriadze (b. June 29, 1936, Kutaisi – d. June 6, 2021, Tbilisi) was a screenwriter, playwright, writer, painter, sculptor. Honored Artist of Georgia (1979), winner of the Shota Rustaveli and USSR State Prizes (both – 1989).

He graduated from the Faculty of Philology of Tbilisi State University (1964) and the Courses for Screenwriters and Directors in Moscow (1967). His first work – the humorous film story The Marble of Phoros – served as the basis for the script for the famous film Extraordinary Exhibition (directed by E. Shengelaia, 1968). Along with film director G. Danelia, he wrote the screenplay for the film Don't Worry! (1969), based on the novel My Uncle Benjamin by the French writer C. Tillier, where he transferred the action from the south of France to 19^th-century Georgia. In the scripts for the comedies Serenade (based on M. Zoshchenko's Serenade; directed by K. Khotivari, 1968) and Qvevri (based on L. Pirandello's The Jar; directed by I. Kvirikadze, 1970), he skillfully adapted the situations and characters to Georgian reality and national character.

He is the author of the script for the comedy film The Eccentrics (Sherekilebi) (directed by E. Shengelaia, 1973). Gabriadze's television miniature series The Road (Three Roubles, Thermometer, Saturday Evening, The Bet; directed by R. Sharabidze, 1975), The Conquerors of Mountains (directed by A. Darsavelidze, 1977), Butterfly (directors: N. Nenova, G. Tsulaia, 1977), Three Suitors (directed by R. Charkhalashvili, 1977) were also popular. He directed several films (Caucasian Romance, 1975; Lemon Cake, 1977). His scripts have been used to make short comedies: Feola (1970), Waltz on Mtatsminda (1975), Luck (1980; all three directed by B. Tsuladze), White Stones (1972), Spring by the Road (1974), Wandering Knights (1975, all three directed by T. Palavandishvili), The Staircase (directed by R. Charkhalashvili, 1975), Love, Fire and Pompiero (directed by G. Pataraia, 1976), Spare Wheel (directed by A. Darsavelidze, 1978); The feature film Dumas in the Caucasus (directed by H. Hazhkasimov, 1979, Russia); the animated film The Watermelon (directed by K. Sulakauri, 1974).

Scripts for G. Danelia's films Mimino (1976), Kin-dza-dza (1986); Passport (1991, Russian Film Academy Award “Nika”) were created with his participation.

He is the author and director of the puppet TV film Dreams of the Kojori Forest (1979). Based on Gabriadze's memories and drawings, the autobiographical animated film Hari-Harale, Mother! (directed by L. Gabriadze, 2017; Russian National Animation Award “Icarus” for Best Screenplay, 2018) was created.

Gabriadze created a unique artistic world, distinguished by free imagination, poetry and warm humor.

In 1981, Gabriadze founded the Puppet Theatre in an old quarter of Tbilisi. Through the theatre, he united his multifaceted creativity in one space – he wrote plays and staged them in the theatre, created puppets and decorations. Some of these plays include: Alfred and Violetta (1982; renewed in 2021), Diamond of Marshal de Fantié (1982; renewed in 2015), The Daughter of the Emperor of Trebizond (1989), Autumn of My Springtime (1985; renewed in 2002), Stalingrad (1998), Ramona (2013). Gabriadze's theatre has toured many countries and participated in numerous international festivals, including Avignon, Edinburgh, New York, Paris, London, Charleston, St. Petersburg, Moscow, and etc. In 1983, Gabriadze translated T. Wilder's (USA) play Our Town, which was staged at the Tumanishvili Film Actors Theatre and is in the repertoire to this day. He implemented several international theatre projects abroad and staged plays based on his own scripts: Sadness at the End of the Alley (1993, Theater “Vidy”, Switzerland), Kutaisi [(1992, Dijon, France), both productions were performed by actors from Peter Brook's troupe and the director's wife, actress N. Parry], Forbidden Christmas or the Doctor and the Patient (2004, New York, together with the M. Baryshnikov's Dance Foundation). From 2010, the Theatre Tower with a clock, which was built in accordance with Gabriadze's sketches, became one of the theatre's landmarks. It attracts many visitors.

Gabriadze's first exhibition as a sculptor was held in 1952. He had a total of 15 personal exhibitions, including at the Pushkin Museum (Moscow, 2012), the “Unusual Exhibition” dedicated to his 80^th anniversary at the Moscow Museum (2016), and etc. Gabriadze's sculptures adorn St. Petersburg and Odessa. His works are kept in various museums and private collections. He created several painting and graphic art series: Galaktion, Pushkin, Goethe, Saadi; He illustrated more than 40 books, including T. Guerra's The Lion with the White Beard (1997), A. Bitov's Pushkin Abroad, Part I: Pushkin in Spain (1989), Metamorphoses (2008), M. Zhvanetsky's One Year for Two (1987), Collection of Literary Works in four volumes (2001), Y. Aleshkovsky's Yuz! (2010).

Gabriadze was actively engaged in literary work. His works include: The Eccentrics (Sherekilebi), White Bridge, Kutaisi, Ermonia and Ramona, Doctor and Patient, Alilo, Topiary Art, Gedevani. In 2017, a book dedicated to Gabriadze’s literary and pictorial work Gabriadze – Georgian Poet, Painter (2017) was presented at the Frankfurt International Book Fair.

Gabriadze is the recipient of numerous international awards. He received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the French Republic and the following awards: “Triumph” (1996), “Golden Sofit” (1997), “Tsarskoselskaya Art Award” (1997), “Golden Mask” (2017).

In 2016, he was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi. He is buried in the Mtatsminda Pantheon of Georgian Writers and Public Figures.

 

Literary work: ქუთაისი ქალაქია, თბ., 2002; შერეკილები, თბ., 2002, 2014; ჩიტო ГК-45-54 ანუ ექიმი და ავადმყოფი, თბ., 2003; ტოპიარული ხელოვნება, მოს., 2016; გედევანი, თბ., 2017; საშობაო მოთხრობები, თბ., 2017.

T. Turmanidze

M. Kereselidze