“In the temple of cinema there are images, light, and reality. Sergei Parajanov was the master of that temple.” — Jean-Luc Godard
Born in 1924 to Armenian parents in multicultural Tbilisi, Sergei Parajanov was a troubadour of aesthetic finesse whose versatile genius with the moving image is distinguished through atmospheric mise-en-scène, sumptuous colors, opulent settings, and unforgettable imagery. Parajanov broke the U.S.S.R’s socialist realist doctrine by creating poetic-visual artworks that defied convention, most notable in his films THE COLOR OF POMEGRANATES and SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS. Despite severe censorship and multiple arrests, Parajanov would continue to challenge the Soviet regime throughout his career. At his death in 1990, Federico Fellini wrote, “With the death of Sergei Parajanov cinema lost one of its magicians.”
Join us starting July 6 to celebrate Sergei Parajanov on the centenary of his birth. MoMI will present some of Parajanov’s greatest feature films and shorts, plus the NY premiere of PARAJANOV: THE LAST SPRING (1992) by his friend and collaborator Mikhail Vartanov. Get tickets at the link in our bio.
100 Years of Parajanov is programmed by guest curator Dorota Lech, who will introduce all screenings July 6 & 7. Community partnership support provided by the Armenian Film Society.
THE SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS (1964), Image
#2
Sat, July 6, 1:00pm
THE COLOR OF POMEGRANATES (1968), Image
#1
Sat, July 6, 3:30pm
Fri, July 26, 6:00pm
THE COLOR OF ARMENIAN LAND (1968) + PARAJANOV: THE LAST SPRING (1992), Image 4
Sat, July 6, 6:00pm
THE LEGEND OF SURAM FORTRESS (1985), Image
#3
Sun, July 7, 1:00pm
ASHIK KERIB (1988)
Sun, July 7, 3:15pm
@parajanov @vartanovart @armenianfilmsociety #parajanov #armenianfilm #georgianfilm #sovietfilm
Images credits: Parajanov: The Last Spring courtey of Parajanov-Vartanov Institute. The Legend of Suram Fortress, courtesy of the Georgian National Film Center.