Giorgi Shengelaia's famous biopic focuses much more on a cinematic representation of Pirosmani's naïve style as opposed to narrative storytelling.
Nikoloz Pirosmanashvili (1862–1918), better known solely as Pirosmani, is perhaps Georgia's most famous painter, despite his relative obscurity during his own lifetime. Born to a peasant family, he was raised in Tbilisi where he worked a variety of jobs, including as a servant, a herdsman, and a railroad conductor. Over time, he taught himself to paint, creating various signboards, portraits, and other works that he sold to numerous shopkeepers.
While the Society of Georgian Painters, founded in 1916, invited Pirosmani to join their ranks, he remained largely unknown and struggled financially throughout his life. Today, his work is celebrated internationally, and he is recognized as a pioneering figure in modern art whose unique naive style has influenced artists worldwide.