Sergei Parajanov
Armenian filmmaker (1924–1990) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Sergei Parajanov?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Sergei Iosifovich Parajanov[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] (born Sarkis Hovsepi Parajaniants; January 9, 1924 – July 20, 1990) was an Armenian film director and screenwriter.[1] Parajanov is regarded by film critics, film historians and filmmakers to be one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in cinema history.[2]
Sergei Parajanov | |
---|---|
Born | Sarkis Hovsepi Parajaniants (1924-01-09)January 9, 1924 Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union |
Died | July 20, 1990(1990-07-20) (aged 66) Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union |
Resting place | Komitas Pantheon, Yerevan |
Nationality | Armenian |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1951–1990 |
Spouses |
|
Children | 1 |
Website | https://www.parajanov.com |
Parajanov studied at Moscow's VGIK under the tutualge of filmmakers Igor Savchenko and Oleksandr Dovzhenko, and began his career as professional film director in 1954. Parjanov became increasingly disenchanted of his films as well as the state sanctioned art style of socialist realism, prominent throughout the Soviet Union. After moving to Ukraine and directing Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, his first major work which diverged from socialist realism and gave him international acclaim,[3] he would later disown and proclaim his films made before 1965 as "garbage."[2] Parajanov subsequetely directed The Color of Pomegranates, which was met with widespread acclaim among filmmakers, and is often considered one of the greatest films ever made.[4]
Throughout Parajanov's life, he was met with increased scurity from Soviet authorities over his films, his personal life, and his political involvments surrounding Ukrainian nationalism.[5][6][7] Nearly all of his film projects and plans from 1965 to 1973 were banned, scrapped or closed by the Soviet film administrations, both locally in Kyiv and Yerevan and federal, almost without discussion. Parajanov arrested in late 1973 on false charges of rape, homosexuality and bribery. He was imprisoned until 1977, despite pleas for pardon from various artists. Even after his release (he was arrested for the third and last time in 1982), he was a persona non grata in Soviet cinema. It was not until the mid-1980s, when the political climate started to relax, that he could resume directing. Still, it required the help of influential Georgian actor Dodo Abashidze and other friends to have his last feature films greenlighted. His health seriously weakened after four years in labor camps and nine months in prison in Tbilisi. Parajanov died of lung cancer in 1990, at a time when, after almost 20 years of suppression, his films were being featured at foreign film festivals. In a 1988 interview he stated that, "Everyone knows that I have three Motherlands. I was born in Georgia, worked in Ukraine and I'm going to die in Armenia."[8] Parajanov is buried at Komitas Pantheon in Yerevan.[9]
Parajanov's films are ranked among the greatest films of all time by Sight & Sound. He won prizes at Mar del Plata Film Festival, Istanbul International Film Festival, Nika Awards, Rotterdam International Film Festival, Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival, São Paulo International Film Festival and others. A comprehensive retrospective in the UK took place in 2010 at BFI Southbank. The retrospective was curated by Layla Alexander-Garrett and Parajanov specialist Elisabetta Fabrizi who commissioned a Parajanov inspired new commission in the BFI Gallery by contemporary artist Matt Collishaw ('Retrospectre'). A symposium was dedicated to Parajanov's work bringing together experts to discuss and celebrate the director's contribution to cinema and art.[10]