The Color of Pomegranates
Encyclopedia
The Color of Pomegranates is a 1968
Armenia
n film directed by Sergei Parajanov.
ashug Sayat-Nova
(King of Song) that attempts to reveal the poet's life visually and poetically rather than literally. The film depicts the poet's coming of age, discovery of the female form, falling in love, entering a monastery and dying, all framed through both Sergei Parajanov's imagination and Sayat Nova's poems. Actress Sofiko Chiaureli
notably plays six roles in the film, both male and female.
The director had claimed his inspiration was "the Armenian illuminated miniatures. I wanted to create that inner dynamic that comes from inside the picture, the forms and the dramaturgy of colour." Parajanov once made a speech in Minsk
in which he asserted that the Armenian public very likely did not understand The Color of Pomegranates, but then said that people "are going to this picture as to a holiday".
has said, "besides the film language suggested by Griffith and Eisenstein
, the world cinema has not discovered anything revolutionarily new until the 'Color of Pomegranates,' not counting the generally unaccepted language of the 'Andalusian Dog
' by Buñuel
" . According to Michelangelo Antonioni
, "Parajanov’s Color of Pomegranates is of a stunningly perfect beauty. Parajanov, in my opinion, is one of best film directors in the world."
The Color of Pomegranates was made reference to in Madonna
's Bedtime Story music video (1994). Her later work with Steven Klein in 2003 would also make reference to this film.
Clips from the movie are used in a music video for the song "God Is God" by the musical group Juno Reactor
and later also by the Iranian band Kiosk
.
1968 in film
The year 1968 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 30 - The film The Lion in Winter, starring Katharine Hepburn, debuts.* November 1 - The MPAA's film rating system is introduced.-Top grossing films :- Awards :...
Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n film directed by Sergei Parajanov.
Overview
The Color of Pomegranates is a biography of the ArmenianArmenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
ashug Sayat-Nova
Sayat-Nova
Sayat-Nova Sayat-Nova Sayat-Nova (born as Harutyun Sayatyan , was an Armenian poet, musician and ashik who had compositions in a number of languages. His adopted name Sayat Nova meant "Master of Songs" in Persian.- Biography :...
(King of Song) that attempts to reveal the poet's life visually and poetically rather than literally. The film depicts the poet's coming of age, discovery of the female form, falling in love, entering a monastery and dying, all framed through both Sergei Parajanov's imagination and Sayat Nova's poems. Actress Sofiko Chiaureli
Sofiko Chiaureli
Sofiko Chiaureli was a Georgian actress, thought to be the muse of filmmaker Sergei Parajanov. She played a wide variety of roles on stage of the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre and the Rustavelli Theatre ....
notably plays six roles in the film, both male and female.
The director had claimed his inspiration was "the Armenian illuminated miniatures. I wanted to create that inner dynamic that comes from inside the picture, the forms and the dramaturgy of colour." Parajanov once made a speech in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
in which he asserted that the Armenian public very likely did not understand The Color of Pomegranates, but then said that people "are going to this picture as to a holiday".
Cast
- Sofiko ChiaureliSofiko ChiaureliSofiko Chiaureli was a Georgian actress, thought to be the muse of filmmaker Sergei Parajanov. She played a wide variety of roles on stage of the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre and the Rustavelli Theatre ....
- Poet as a Youth / Poet's Love / Poet's Muse / Mime / Angel of Resurrection - Melkon Aleksanyan - Poet as a child (as M. Alekyan)
- Vilen GalstyanVilen GalstyanVilen Galstyan is an Armenian ballet dancer and actor who was popular in the former U.S.S.R. and especially in Armenia. He is awarded by the People's Artist of Armenia honorary title.-Biography:...
- Poet in the cloister - Giorgi Gegechkori - Poet as an old man
- Spartak Bagashvili - Poet's father
- Medea Djaparidze - Poet's mother
- Hovhannes Minasyan - Prince
- Onik Minasyan - Prince
Critical reception
Filmmaker Mikhail VartanovMikhail Vartanov
Mikhail Vartanov . Film director, cinematographer, documentarian, essayist, photographer and artist who developed a style of documentary filmmaking termed the “direction of undirected action.”...
has said, "besides the film language suggested by Griffith and Eisenstein
Sergei Eisenstein
Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein , né Eizenshtein, was a pioneering Soviet Russian film director and film theorist, often considered to be the "Father of Montage"...
, the world cinema has not discovered anything revolutionarily new until the 'Color of Pomegranates,' not counting the generally unaccepted language of the 'Andalusian Dog
Un chien andalou
Un Chien Andalou is a 1929 silent surrealist short film by the Spanish director Luis Buñuel and artist Salvador Dalí. It was Buñuel's first film and was initially released in 1929 to a limited showing in Paris, but became popular and ran for eight months....
' by Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
" . According to Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian modernist film director, screenwriter, editor and short story writer.- Personal life :...
, "Parajanov’s Color of Pomegranates is of a stunningly perfect beauty. Parajanov, in my opinion, is one of best film directors in the world."
Legacy
The Color of Pomegranates was referenced in the films Peter Greenaway in Indianapolis (1997) and Erased Faces II (2006).The Color of Pomegranates was made reference to in Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's Bedtime Story music video (1994). Her later work with Steven Klein in 2003 would also make reference to this film.
Clips from the movie are used in a music video for the song "God Is God" by the musical group Juno Reactor
Juno Reactor
Juno Reactor is a musical and performing act known for the cinematic fusion of electronic, orchestral, and global music. Central to the project is Ben Watkins and his collaborations with a constantly changing ensemble of musicians from across the world, including percussionist Mabi Thobejane from...
and later also by the Iranian band Kiosk
Kiosk (band)
-Introduction:Kiosk is an underground Iranian music band founded in 2003 by Arash Sobhani in Tehran. Like many other bands in Iran, they had to set up their studios in the underground basements of friends and families, fearing of the Islamic regime’s constant surveillance and strict censorship...
.