Consequently, King Vano is surrounded by discontented, jealous and treacherous courtiers. Even Queen Eka, played by Nino Ordjonikidze, betrays him, despite her well-designed chastity belt. Some five centuries later, Vano is a pickpocket in a small country behind the Iron Curtain. Played again by Amiranachvili, he joins the revolutionary cause of the beautiful Eka, played once more by Ordjonikidze. Victorious, the couple climb through the ranks of the new order, but their success breeds discontent, jealousy and treachery.
Acquaintances disappear, hauled off to prison for a few ill-chosen words after getting drunk.
Knowing that he cannot even have a drink without endangering himself, Vano decides to leave his country for the bright lights of the big city where he hears life is sweet. Testifying both to Ioseliani's international reputation and the lamentable state of Georgia's film industry, Brigands is a pan-European production, involving France's Pierre Grise Productions and La Sept Cinema, Russia's Soyuzkinoservice, Switzerland's Carac Film and Italy's Bim Distribuzione. Shooting took place on location in Georgia over a gruelling six weeks during mid-winter. Things went from bad to worse when the production moved to Georgia's state studios in the capital, Tbilisi. Ironically, many of the lavish interior sequences then had to be shot during two weeks in St Petersburg.