Sergei Parajanov

Sergei Parajanov (1924-1990) was an Armenian film director and artist who was renowned for his unique and original style of film-making. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, he studied at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow and made his directorial debut with The Color of Pomegranates in 1968.

Parajanov was a highly influential and acclaimed director, despite his limited output. His films combined elements of surrealism, symbolism, and fantasy to create dreamlike stories that often explored themes of mortality and the human condition. Parajanov was also known for his avant-garde use of color and composition, which was often inspired by his love of Armenian folk art and culture.

Parajanov was a vocal critic of Soviet censorship and was often harassed by the authorities for his political views and artistic choices. In 1972, he was arrested on charges of homosexuality and imprisoned for four years. Upon his release, he was unable to make films in the Soviet Union and instead moved to Ukraine, where he made several acclaimed films, including The Legend of Suram Fortress (1984) and Ashik Kerib (1988).

Parajanov's films were acclaimed and awarded prestigious prizes, including the Silver Bear for The Legend of Suram Fortress at the Berlin Film Festival. After his death in 1990, Parajanov's films and artworks have been celebrated and exhibited around the world. He has been recognized as one of the most important and influential film directors of the 20th century.