Updated with minor clarifications from Martiros Vartanov. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is shining a spotlight on one of the most revered filmmakers in cinema history.
On Friday evening the museum in Los Angeles will screen a restored version of visionary Armenian filmmaker and poet Sergei Parajanov’s 1969 classic The Color of Pomegranates, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. In addition, the museum is premiering the newly restored Parajanov: The Last Spring, a documentary about Parajanov directed by Soviet-born filmmaker and cinematographer Mikhail Vartanov.
The Color of Pomegranates, a visually metamorphic and hybrid narrative, follows the life of the great 18th century Armenian poet and musician, Sayat Nova. Oscillating between stillness and movement – Pomegranates is a mesmerizing wide-canvas painting on film and has been hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time in various polls conducted by Movieline, Time Out, and the British Film Institute’s magazine,...
On Friday evening the museum in Los Angeles will screen a restored version of visionary Armenian filmmaker and poet Sergei Parajanov’s 1969 classic The Color of Pomegranates, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. In addition, the museum is premiering the newly restored Parajanov: The Last Spring, a documentary about Parajanov directed by Soviet-born filmmaker and cinematographer Mikhail Vartanov.
The Color of Pomegranates, a visually metamorphic and hybrid narrative, follows the life of the great 18th century Armenian poet and musician, Sayat Nova. Oscillating between stillness and movement – Pomegranates is a mesmerizing wide-canvas painting on film and has been hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time in various polls conducted by Movieline, Time Out, and the British Film Institute’s magazine,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Sunil Sadarangani
- Deadline Film + TV
Guest reviewer Lee Broughton assesses the Armenian director Sergei Parajanov’s poetic and metaphor-filled biopic about his countryman Sayat Nova, the Armenian poet-troubadour. This new disc edition offers both versions of the picture, Parajanov’s original and the Soviet-approved version cut by seven minutes. As we learn, if a Soviet film director found favor internationally, they often landed in trouble back home.
The Colour of Pomegranates
Region B Blu-ray
Second Sight (UK)
1969 / Color / 1.33 flat full frame / 79 min. / Sayat Nova, Nran Guyne / Street Date, 19 Feb 2018 / £29.99
Starring: Sofiko Chiaureli, Melkon Alekyan, Vilen Galstyan, Gogi Gegechkori, Spartak Bagashvili, Medea Japaridze, Hovhannes Minasyan.
Cinematography: Suren Shakhbazyan
Film Editor: Marfa Ponomarenko
Production Designer: Stepan Andranikyan
Original Music: Tigran Mansuryan
Written and Directed by Sergei Parajanov
Reviewed by Lee Broughton
Sergei Parajanov’s The Colour of Pomegranates is a film with a troubled release history. The Russian censor ruled that Parajanov’s initial cut of the...
The Colour of Pomegranates
Region B Blu-ray
Second Sight (UK)
1969 / Color / 1.33 flat full frame / 79 min. / Sayat Nova, Nran Guyne / Street Date, 19 Feb 2018 / £29.99
Starring: Sofiko Chiaureli, Melkon Alekyan, Vilen Galstyan, Gogi Gegechkori, Spartak Bagashvili, Medea Japaridze, Hovhannes Minasyan.
Cinematography: Suren Shakhbazyan
Film Editor: Marfa Ponomarenko
Production Designer: Stepan Andranikyan
Original Music: Tigran Mansuryan
Written and Directed by Sergei Parajanov
Reviewed by Lee Broughton
Sergei Parajanov’s The Colour of Pomegranates is a film with a troubled release history. The Russian censor ruled that Parajanov’s initial cut of the...
- 3/20/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
New York Film Festival isn't just about the new. Here is Glenn on the restoration of Sergei Parajanov's 1968 avant-garde classic 'The Color of Pomegranates'.
Conversing at a bar last Friday night after the premiere Nyff screening of David Fincher’s Gone Girl, I mentioned to Nathaniel that I knew what shot I would choose for “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”. I’m not sure about you, but I frequently find myself attempting to work out what my selection would be when I watch a movie. As I’ve mentioned previously, I am very much into the visual and formal aspects of a film so whether it’s a cheap horror movie or a prestige epic my eyes attempt to scope these things out.
Which brings me to the restoration of Sergei Parajanov’s The Colour of Pomegranates (also known as Sayat Nova). This, quite frankly, is...
Conversing at a bar last Friday night after the premiere Nyff screening of David Fincher’s Gone Girl, I mentioned to Nathaniel that I knew what shot I would choose for “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”. I’m not sure about you, but I frequently find myself attempting to work out what my selection would be when I watch a movie. As I’ve mentioned previously, I am very much into the visual and formal aspects of a film so whether it’s a cheap horror movie or a prestige epic my eyes attempt to scope these things out.
Which brings me to the restoration of Sergei Parajanov’s The Colour of Pomegranates (also known as Sayat Nova). This, quite frankly, is...
- 10/1/2014
- by Glenn Dunks
- FilmExperience
Dear Danny,
I can’t help but admire (and be frankly envious of) the indefatigable way in which you, as the festival nears its end, push full speed ahead into every type of film, accumulating an amazing number of viewings both narrative and avant-garde. I seem to head out somewhat in the opposite direction, stepping in and out of screening rooms while taking time to just wander the drizzly streets, browse the bookstore, and have coffee with friends whom I probably won’t be seeing again for another year. It’s during these mellow closing days, which contrast sharply with the frantic compression of the first week, that I often have some of my most surprising encounters with people and films.
Maybe that’s why I enjoyed Hong Sang-soo’s Hill of Freedom so much. A film about visitors and match-sized flares of irritation and infatuation, it could pass for...
I can’t help but admire (and be frankly envious of) the indefatigable way in which you, as the festival nears its end, push full speed ahead into every type of film, accumulating an amazing number of viewings both narrative and avant-garde. I seem to head out somewhat in the opposite direction, stepping in and out of screening rooms while taking time to just wander the drizzly streets, browse the bookstore, and have coffee with friends whom I probably won’t be seeing again for another year. It’s during these mellow closing days, which contrast sharply with the frantic compression of the first week, that I often have some of my most surprising encounters with people and films.
Maybe that’s why I enjoyed Hong Sang-soo’s Hill of Freedom so much. A film about visitors and match-sized flares of irritation and infatuation, it could pass for...
- 9/14/2014
- by Fernando F. Croce
- MUBI
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a 40th anniversary screening of “Young Frankenstein” with special guests Mel Brooks, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr and executive producer Michael Gruskoff on Tuesday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Film historian Leonard Maltin will introduce the comedy classic and host a live onstage discussion with Brooks, Leachman, Garr and Gruskoff.
“Young Frankenstein,” Brooks’s 1974 homage to the Golden Age of monster movies, features a large ensemble cast including Leachman, Garr, Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars and Gene Hackman. It earned Oscar® nominations for Adapted Screenplay (Wilder, Brooks) and Sound (Richard Portman, Gene Cantamessa).
Additional Academy events coming up in September at the Bing Theater in Los Angeles are listed below, with details at www.oscars.org/events:
“Let There Be Fright: William Castle Scare Classics”
The...
“Young Frankenstein,” Brooks’s 1974 homage to the Golden Age of monster movies, features a large ensemble cast including Leachman, Garr, Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars and Gene Hackman. It earned Oscar® nominations for Adapted Screenplay (Wilder, Brooks) and Sound (Richard Portman, Gene Cantamessa).
Additional Academy events coming up in September at the Bing Theater in Los Angeles are listed below, with details at www.oscars.org/events:
“Let There Be Fright: William Castle Scare Classics”
The...
- 8/25/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin zombie drama Maggie, Dustin Hoffman drama Boychoir, Kristen Wiig comedy Welcome To Me and Sophie Barthes’ Madame Bovary have landed world premieres, Tiff gala and special presentation slots.
Also in line to screen for the first time anywhere at the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14) are crime thriller The Forger starring John Travolta, Christopher Plummer and Tye Sheridan, thriller Escobar: Paradise Lost starring Benicio Del Toro, Thomas McCarthy’s The Cobbler starring Adam Sandler, and Paul Bettany’s directorial debut Shelter.
Tiff top brass also unveiled the Wavelengths, Future Projections, Tiff Cinematheque and shorts programmes.
Wp = World premiere / Nap = North American premiere / IP = International premiere / Cp = Canadian premiere.
Galas
Boychoir (Us), François Girard Wp
The Connection (La French) (France-Belgium), Cédric Jimenez Wp
Escobar: Paradise Lost (France), Andrea Di Stefano Wp
The Forger (Us), Philip Martin Wp
Infinitely Polar Bear (Us), Maya Forbes Cp
Laggies (Us), Lynn Shelton IP
Ruth & Alex...
Also in line to screen for the first time anywhere at the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14) are crime thriller The Forger starring John Travolta, Christopher Plummer and Tye Sheridan, thriller Escobar: Paradise Lost starring Benicio Del Toro, Thomas McCarthy’s The Cobbler starring Adam Sandler, and Paul Bettany’s directorial debut Shelter.
Tiff top brass also unveiled the Wavelengths, Future Projections, Tiff Cinematheque and shorts programmes.
Wp = World premiere / Nap = North American premiere / IP = International premiere / Cp = Canadian premiere.
Galas
Boychoir (Us), François Girard Wp
The Connection (La French) (France-Belgium), Cédric Jimenez Wp
Escobar: Paradise Lost (France), Andrea Di Stefano Wp
The Forger (Us), Philip Martin Wp
Infinitely Polar Bear (Us), Maya Forbes Cp
Laggies (Us), Lynn Shelton IP
Ruth & Alex...
- 8/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin zombie drama Maggie, Kristen Wiig comedy Welcome To Me and Sophie Barthes’ Madame Bovary have landed world premieres, Tiff gala and special presentation slots.
Also in line to screen for the first time anywhere at the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14) are crime thriller The Forger starring John Travolta, Christopher Plummer and Tye Sheridan, thriller Escobar: Paradise Lost starring Benicio Del Toro, Thomas McCarthy’s The Cobbler starring Adam Sandler, and Paul Bettany’s directorial debut Shelter.
Tiff top brass also unveiled the Wavelength, Future Projections, Tiff Cinematheque and shorts programmes.
Wp = World premiere / Nap = North American premiere / IP = International premiere / Cp = Canadian premiere.
Galas
Boychoir (Us), François Girard Wp
The Connection (La French) (France-Belgium), Cédric Jimenez Wp
Escobar: Paradise Lost (France), Andrea Di Stefano Wp
The Forger (Us), Philip Martin Wp
Infinitely Polar Bear (Us), Maya Forbes Cp
Laggies (Us), Lynn Shelton IP
Ruth & Alex (Us), Richard Loncraine Wp
Special...
Also in line to screen for the first time anywhere at the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14) are crime thriller The Forger starring John Travolta, Christopher Plummer and Tye Sheridan, thriller Escobar: Paradise Lost starring Benicio Del Toro, Thomas McCarthy’s The Cobbler starring Adam Sandler, and Paul Bettany’s directorial debut Shelter.
Tiff top brass also unveiled the Wavelength, Future Projections, Tiff Cinematheque and shorts programmes.
Wp = World premiere / Nap = North American premiere / IP = International premiere / Cp = Canadian premiere.
Galas
Boychoir (Us), François Girard Wp
The Connection (La French) (France-Belgium), Cédric Jimenez Wp
Escobar: Paradise Lost (France), Andrea Di Stefano Wp
The Forger (Us), Philip Martin Wp
Infinitely Polar Bear (Us), Maya Forbes Cp
Laggies (Us), Lynn Shelton IP
Ruth & Alex (Us), Richard Loncraine Wp
Special...
- 8/12/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exploration of the life of Sayat Nova.
The Colour of Pomegranates is a unique cinematic exploration of the 18th century Armenian poet Sayat Nova’s life and work. If that sounds like a tough watch, that’s because it is. This ‘film’ cannot be approached through any conventional understanding of the word. This isn’t cinema as we know it. This, quite frankly, is impenetrable nonsense. It may be staggeringly beautiful and inventive, but it’s posturing nonsense all the same.
Without any discernible characters, dialogue or plot, the film aims to provide us with a...
The Colour of Pomegranates is a unique cinematic exploration of the 18th century Armenian poet Sayat Nova’s life and work. If that sounds like a tough watch, that’s because it is. This ‘film’ cannot be approached through any conventional understanding of the word. This isn’t cinema as we know it. This, quite frankly, is impenetrable nonsense. It may be staggeringly beautiful and inventive, but it’s posturing nonsense all the same.
Without any discernible characters, dialogue or plot, the film aims to provide us with a...
- 8/27/2011
- by Robert Munro
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Stargate: Universe: Seasons 1 & 2
DVD, 20th Century Fox
There's no shame in being a cancelled TV show these days. Where science fiction is concerned, it can almost be considered a badge of honour, as in cases such as Joss Whedon's Firefly or the dark X-Files follow-up Millennium. Let's not forget that Star Trek got yanked off the air, too. One of many spinoff series from the silly but entertaining 1994 Kurt Russell blockbuster, Stargate: Universe took on a darker, more serious tone, marooning a large group of explorers (including Robert Carlyle as the resident angry genius) on a huge and ancient spacecraft of unknown origin in a distant part of the universe. After a shaky start, the show developed into something much better than expected, with the unwilling and unprepared crew regularly at risk from internal power struggles, alien attacks and mysterious forces. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the weekly...
DVD, 20th Century Fox
There's no shame in being a cancelled TV show these days. Where science fiction is concerned, it can almost be considered a badge of honour, as in cases such as Joss Whedon's Firefly or the dark X-Files follow-up Millennium. Let's not forget that Star Trek got yanked off the air, too. One of many spinoff series from the silly but entertaining 1994 Kurt Russell blockbuster, Stargate: Universe took on a darker, more serious tone, marooning a large group of explorers (including Robert Carlyle as the resident angry genius) on a huge and ancient spacecraft of unknown origin in a distant part of the universe. After a shaky start, the show developed into something much better than expected, with the unwilling and unprepared crew regularly at risk from internal power struggles, alien attacks and mysterious forces. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the weekly...
- 8/26/2011
- by Phelim O'Neill
- The Guardian - Film News
Sergei Paradjanov made some of the most beautiful films ever seen, writes Elif Batuman. His reward was to be sent to the gulag for 'surrealist tendencies'
Between his abandonment of socialist realism in 1964 and his death from lung cancer in 1990, Sergei Paradjanov made four of the weirdest and most beautiful movies ever seen. An ethnic Armenian, Paradjanov was born in Soviet Georgia in 1924. His mother was "very artistic": she "used to adorn herself with Christmas tree decorations and curtains and join her friends on the roof to enact legends". In 1947, Paradjanov spent a brief stint in a Georgian prison for committing "homosexual acts" (which were illegal under Soviet law) – with, of all people, a Kgb officer. He later disavowed the seven films he shot in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1962, he saw Tarkovsky's Ivan's Childhood and completely changed his artistic method, which had previously been quite normal.
The...
Between his abandonment of socialist realism in 1964 and his death from lung cancer in 1990, Sergei Paradjanov made four of the weirdest and most beautiful movies ever seen. An ethnic Armenian, Paradjanov was born in Soviet Georgia in 1924. His mother was "very artistic": she "used to adorn herself with Christmas tree decorations and curtains and join her friends on the roof to enact legends". In 1947, Paradjanov spent a brief stint in a Georgian prison for committing "homosexual acts" (which were illegal under Soviet law) – with, of all people, a Kgb officer. He later disavowed the seven films he shot in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1962, he saw Tarkovsky's Ivan's Childhood and completely changed his artistic method, which had previously been quite normal.
The...
- 3/13/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
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