Born to Armenian parents in Georgia’s Tbilisi in 1924, Sergei Iosifovich Parajanov was a film director known for sumptuous colors, opulent settings, and unforgettable imagery. Controversy, too, of course.
Four of his best movies – Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964); The Color of Pomegranates (1968); The Legend of Suram Fortress (1985); and Ashik Kerib (1988) – will screen at the Museum of the Moving Image from Saturday, July 6, to Friday, July 26.
The series also features shorts by Parajanov’s friend and collaborator Mikhail Vartanov, including the newly restored documentary Parajanov: The Last Spring (1992).
The movies are in various languages, such as Armenian, Georgian, and Ukrainian, with English subtitles. The schedule follows.
July 6 at 1 pm
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, which has also been translated as “Wild Horse of Fire,” is a Romeo-and-Juliet style romance about two Ukrainians who fall in love despite being members of families in a long-running, bloody feud. Ivan falls in love with Marichka, whose father killed his father. Regardless, they plan to marry until Marichka drowns. Ivan finds another wife, but problems ensue.
July 6 at 3:30 pm
July 26 at 6 pm
The Color of Pomegranates recounts the life of Sayat-Nova, an 18th century Armenian poet, through his poems. The session includes The Last Spring, which director Martiros M. Vartanov will introduce. Filmed in war-torn, blockaded Armenia and edited by candlelight, this 60-minute wordless montage expresses the two artists’ friendship while Parajanov was imprisoned by the Soviets.
July 7 at 1 pm
The Legend of Suram Fortress is a version of 19th century Georgian writer Daniel Chonkadze’s folktale about a serf who is freed. Now he has to make money to buy his lover’s freedom amid a foreign invasion.
July 7 at 3:15 pm
Ashik Kerib, which is also translated as “The Loverlong Minstrel,” depicts a poor troubadour who wants to marry a woman, despite her father’s objection. He sets out to make money to win over the father — and after many setbacks, he returns successfully.
Bisexual and committed to Ukrainian nationalism, Parajonov was under constant surveillance by Soviet authorities. Many of his film projects were banned, and he was arrested various times for such charges as bribery, homosexuality, and rape. He spent time in prisons and a labor camp. In 1990, he died of lung cancer and was buried in Armenia as per his wishes.
General admission is $15. Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35th Ave. in Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District.
Images: Museum of the Moving Image