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THE COLOR OF PARAJANOV
EurasiaNet.org
Jan 9 2014
January 9, 2014 - 12:00pm, by Giorgi Lomsadze
Iconic filmmaker Sergo (Sergei) Parajanov - a man who in his lifetime
gained a reputation as the Soviet Union's Fellini - would have turned
90 today. This EurasiaNet video pays tribute to Parajanov's legacy,
which extends well beyond his native region, the South Caucasus.
An ethnic Armenian born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Parajanov is still
widely considered to be the greatest visual poet that the Caucasus has
ever produced. Relying on a cinematic style that emphasized a rich,
baroque tapestry of images and the expressive silence of his film
characters, Parajanov transgressed the cultural and artistic borders
of his time and place. While defying Soviet censors, he managed to
rise above the parochial nationalist sentiments that prevailed in
the Caucasus in his time -- much like another famous cosmopolitan
Tbilisi Armenian before him, the 17th century troubadour Sayat Nova,
a figure who became an inspiration for Parajanov's internationally
acclaimed movie, the Color of Pomegranates.
Ultimately, Communist authorities couldn't tolerate Parajanov's
individualist streak, and he spent several years in prison starting
in the late 1970s, convicted on what were widely seen as politically
motivated charges. The experience broke his health, and he succumbed
to cancer in 1990 at the age of 66. One can only wonder what might
have been, if he could have lived long enough to enjoy full artistic
freedom during the post-Soviet era.
Editor's Note: Giorgi Lomsadze is a freelance journalist based in
Tbilisi. He is a frequent contributor to EurasiaNet.org's Tamada
Tales blog.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67920
EurasiaNet.org
Jan 9 2014
January 9, 2014 - 12:00pm, by Giorgi Lomsadze
Iconic filmmaker Sergo (Sergei) Parajanov - a man who in his lifetime
gained a reputation as the Soviet Union's Fellini - would have turned
90 today. This EurasiaNet video pays tribute to Parajanov's legacy,
which extends well beyond his native region, the South Caucasus.
An ethnic Armenian born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Parajanov is still
widely considered to be the greatest visual poet that the Caucasus has
ever produced. Relying on a cinematic style that emphasized a rich,
baroque tapestry of images and the expressive silence of his film
characters, Parajanov transgressed the cultural and artistic borders
of his time and place. While defying Soviet censors, he managed to
rise above the parochial nationalist sentiments that prevailed in
the Caucasus in his time -- much like another famous cosmopolitan
Tbilisi Armenian before him, the 17th century troubadour Sayat Nova,
a figure who became an inspiration for Parajanov's internationally
acclaimed movie, the Color of Pomegranates.
Ultimately, Communist authorities couldn't tolerate Parajanov's
individualist streak, and he spent several years in prison starting
in the late 1970s, convicted on what were widely seen as politically
motivated charges. The experience broke his health, and he succumbed
to cancer in 1990 at the age of 66. One can only wonder what might
have been, if he could have lived long enough to enjoy full artistic
freedom during the post-Soviet era.
Editor's Note: Giorgi Lomsadze is a freelance journalist based in
Tbilisi. He is a frequent contributor to EurasiaNet.org's Tamada
Tales blog.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/67920