With a playful associative montage, Parajanov offers an overview of portrait paintings by Hakob Hovnatanyan, the ‘Raphael of Tiflis’. Combining sights and sounds from both Hovnatanyan’s paintings and 19th century Tbilisi, Parajanov’s short documentary can be seen as a direct precursor to The Colour of Pomegranates (1969), his masterpiece.
Also in this combined programme
-
Kiev Frescoes
Parajanov’s collage of all the remaining footage from an aborted film project, which had its negatives destroyed by the authorities. -
Arabesques on the Pirosmani Theme
A documentary film about the great ‘primitive’ painter Niko Pirosmani, a Georgian equivalent to Henri Rousseau, and a role model for Paraj -
The Colour of Chips
The classic The Colour of Pomegranates, transposed to the no less exotic Blackpool in the UK. Soundtrack by Mica Levi (Jackie, Under the Skin).
Film details
- Country of production
- Armenia
- Year
- 1967
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2019
- Length
- 10'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
