There Once Was a Singing Blackbird

Asia Society presents the premiere of a new 4K restoration of There Once Was a Singing Blackbird (Georgia, 1971, 78 min., in Georgian and Russian with English subtitles) — the first in a series of restorations of acclaimed Georgian auteur Otar Iosseliani's work, followed by a full retrospective at Metrograph in August.

Gia, a timpanist in the Tbilisi Philharmonic, has perfected the art of arriving just in time to hit his lone cue before dashing back out — leaving the rest of his hours free for women and carousing with friends. A marvelous character study of an incurably impulsive young man careening through the city with the same freewheeling spontaneity as the film itself.

Complimentary tickets available to NYC college students with valid ID at the box office on the day of the screening.