THE SAGE AND THE DONKEY Based on Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani's texts
screenwriter Pavel Charkviani
director & art director Iosif Samsonadze
musical design G. Mchedlidze artist V. Datukishvili
camera Lyubov Kvaliashvili sound Garri Kuntsev
animators I. Samsonadze, M. Dekanosidze, K. Dzhebashvili, V. Grigoryan, V. Kushneryov, O. Dumbadze
assistants G. Martashvili, L. Razmadze, I. Kenchiashvili
montage M. Kobahidze script editor A. Mantskava musical editor T. Shavlohashvili
Animation division of Georgia-Film, 1978
One day, a sage rode along the road.
In order to eat the forbidden jam,
a kid pretended to be ill.
The sage thought:
"Only the whip can cure him!"
How can a good road be made?
The builders were unable to decide.
The sage said:
"A donkey will show you the answer."
A peasant was afraid of bad weather -
It could ruin the harvest, after all.
"Should the harvest be brought in, or not?"
The flummoxed labourer couldn't decide.
"Harvest now!" said the sage.
It once happened that even the sage made a mistake.
They gave the sage endless wine to drink
and, competing in eloquence,
hastened to shower him with praise.
The sage soaked in the praise unguardedly.
The monk said: "You're worthy of sainthood, sage!"
"The wisest of the wise!"
"You're doubtlessly the equal of Aristotle," exclaimed the toastmaster.
And, wanting glory, he ascended to lofty thoughts.
Well, he collapsed.
His donkey began to drink water.
The sage thought:
"Will he drink more?"
He begged him
and tried to force him.
He praised the donkey profusely,
but still the donkey would not drink more.
The sage said:
"Oh, shame and disgrace be upon me!
Donkey, your mind has bested mine!"
Subtitles - Niffiwan @ animatsiya.net, also thanks to george mezvrishvili