Director: Sergei Parajanov
Starring: Sofiko Chiaureli, Melkon Alekyan, Vilen Galstyan
Sergei Parajanov's celebrated masterpiece paints an astonishing portrait of the 18th century Armenian poet Sayat Nova, the 'King of Song'. Parajanov's aim was not a conventional biography but a cinematic expression of his work, resulting in an extraordinary visual poem. Key moments in his subject's life are illustrated through a series of exquisitely orchestrated tableaux filled with rich colour and stunning iconography, each scene a celluloid painting alive with stylised movement.
Bonus Features
Disc One
- Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation restoration of the Armenian version (The Parajanov Cut)
- The Russian version (The Yutkevich Cut) prepared using The Film Foundation's restored material
- Optional annotated commentary on the Armenian Cut by James Steffen, author of 'The Cinema of Sergei Parajanov and advisor on the new restoration
- Optional audio commentary on the Yutkevich Cut by Levon Abrahamyan
Disc Two
New 2K restoration of Sergei Parajanov's short film Kiev Frescoe with optional annotated commentary by Daniel Bird
- Poetry, Pomegranates and Parajanov: A new appreciation by Daniel Bird
- Pomegranates Rediscovered: Cecilia Cenciarelli of Bologna Cineteca on the multi-national effort to save The Colour of Pomegranates
- Free Parajanov! Tony Rayns on the campaign to free Parajanov
- The World is a Window: The Making of the Colour of Pomegranates
- Memories About Sayat Nova: Levon Grigoryan's 2006 documentary featuring extracts from the rushes
Catalogue number: 2NDBR4111
Certificate: U
Region: B