Paradjanov

I recently came across this video by Russian musician Artsava, an update of a traditional Armenian song, “Shushi.” While the song is quite fine, if the visuals — all taken from Sergei Paradjanov’s The Color of Pomegranates — don’t make you want to seek out some of this amazing filmmaker’s work, I’ll be very surprised. Kino put out a great boxed set a couple of years ago with Paradjanov’s Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964), The Color of Pomegranates (1969), The Legend of Suram Fortress (1984), Ashik Kerib (1988, his last completed film), and a couple of documentaries and other features.  Paradjanov’s work is absolutely unique and highly recommended.