Armenian orthodox christian symbolism, traditions of those people and blah blah (we have the same traditions in eastern Iran, among Turks)… are the used themes. Surreal imagery that looks like paintings are the opposite of the realism which was being dictated by communism government. Paradjanov was more concerned about keeping and depicting the old traditions than anything else.
It’s all about the life of a poet, maybe an Asheeq (or Ashiq?), and Paradjanov made a film about his life by showing us his inner world.
I’ve only seen Ashiq Karib, and I hated it.
@ Jason,
We need clarification. Did you watch all of Ashiq Karib or a 4 minute sped-up version on Youtube?
I watched it in regular speed.
“It was a movie that instantly told my brain to love it. I obeyed.”
I think this is the most accurate description of the film I’ve ever heard.
…maybe of ANY film I’ve ever heard…
i was thinking of perhaps choosing parajanov for the director’s cup, but then i balked at introducing the films. what the hell would I be able to say about them? what would convince a ps3 mubi newbie to love it? sadly i wasn’t up to the task.
also i just wonder guiltily sometimes if there isn’t something a little contemptible at being so entranced by the fragrant exoticism – it is so stunning and inescapable. you don’t quite get the spiritual agony of the poet, because you’re so happy just looking at the prettiness….
What I like about this film is that for those of us who just want to “look at the prettiness”, it succeeds, but also for those of us interested in contemplating the deeper expression of that prettiness, it delivers as well. The meaningful riches are equal to its aesthetic riches.
2 years later I have re-watched this film, only this time with a better idea of what it was supposed to be. (Before I had absolutely no idea that it was supposed to be a form of biography). I loved it even more now than when I first watched it. What an interesting film. I would still like to learn a little more about Sayat Nova and then watch it again though.
I think I’m in a tiny minority with this opinion, but I prefer Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors and Legend of the Citadel Souram to The Colour of Pomegranates. That may partly be because I saw them first, and Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors in particular completely changed my understanding of what cinema was capable of.
My main point being, if you liked The Colour of Pomegranates, and you haven’t seen the other Paradjanov films, they’re worth seeking out. :-)
I too prefer Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. It’s just a beautiful film. It’s nowhere near as challenging but its spirit is so unbelievably free and its ethnic roots are so strong and powerful. My favorite part is when the children start running through the field in the morning after hearing an animal (?) call.
Sergei Parajanov seems to be terribly underrated, even among “film buffs”. I loved his whole approach to making films, so free and poet, so un-intellectual. Like Tarkovsky said, “He made the exact film he wanted to make”. Or something like that.
Rock and Bull
What the hell was this? I have no idea. All I know is that I don’t really care. The scene with the books was my favorite, but there are so many others. It’s just great. I don’t know what to say about this really, except that my mind felt like it could be blown, but it was just smooth and strange and entrancing to really make me utterly confused. People could try to examine this film, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but for me… I just loved it, and I had no idea what the hell it was. It’s supposed to be about some poet I guess… but I didn’t really care. It was a movie that instantly told my brain to love it. I obeyed.
But while I love it for no reason at all, what are other reasons to love it? I’m quite curious.