Background
Paradzhanov, Sergei was born on January 9, 1924 in Tbilisi.
Paradzhanov, Sergei was born on January 9, 1924 in Tbilisi.
Graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow as a director. Pupil of Igor’ Savchenko.
Major Soviet Armenian director. Made a dozen folklore films but became famous with his Teni Zabytykh Predkov (Shadows of Our Forgotten Ancestors) in 1964, which received 16 international prizes for its dazzling camera-work (by Iurii Il’enko), combined with remarkable directing and acting. The film used West Ukrainian folklore from the Carpathian mountains and was produced by the Dovzhenko Film Studio in Kiev, which previously specialized in propaganda and sentimental productions.
Another major film was Sayal Nova (The Colour of Pomegranates). Like Shadows, this was much criticized and not put on general public release. Arrested in the autumn of 1972 and charged with currency dealing (the charge was later dropped) and homosexuality, convicted and imprisoned.
In fact, the conviction was for signing a couple of letters demanding the release of Ukrainian intellectuals who had been harassed for years by the Ukrainian Committee for State Security. The Paradzhanov Affair became a focus of international attention. Pressure was brought to bear on the Soviet authorities, and he was released in January 1978.
His film Kiev's Frescoes was destroyed. This film was set on the eve of the German occupation of the city during World War II, and dealt with the destruction by the NKVD of the Ukrainian capital, including national treasures dating back to the 12th century. After his release from prison, lived in Tbilisi in his mother’s home.
Was not given permission to work. Tried to emigrate to France but was not allowed to. Disappeared from the film scene for several years.
In 1986, visited the Rotterdam film festival. Under Gorbachev, all his films were released and his reputation restored.