Sergei Parajanov

Parajanov was one of the greatest. His life was a tragedy. He paid for his huge talent with years of prison. They did not tolerate his deep understanding of myths and rituals as foundation of our human identity. We are what we are because a long chain of ancestors built a civilization, and they sent it to us through rituals perpetrating the myths: the myths justifying what we are. All major movies of Parajanov meditate on this. And he paid it with years of prison.

It is not easy to watch any of his movies: he is talking in a pure cinematic language; he is meditating through images.

Here is a video which contains some footage from his masterpiece (Sayat Nova); footage left out for the final release.

(video by chaskor)

• Arabeskebi Pirosmanis Temaze
• Parajanov Museum in Yerevan
• Casian Balabasciuc
• Casian Balabasciuc - Singurătatea Strămoşilor
• Bărbanţe, doniţe, ciubere
• A Holy Angel
• Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, 1965
• Sayat-Nova (The Color of Pomegranates), 1969
• Ukrainian Rhapsody, 1961. Andriesh, 1954
• Little Flower on the Stone, 1962
• The Legend of the Surami Fortress, 1985
• Ashik Kerib, 1988

(Russian and Soviet Cinema)