Film buff or nah, Sergei Parajanov’s filmography is worth checking out. The late Armenian director is known to be an inspiration to modern pop culture icons like Lady Gaga and Madonna, and even has fans in Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Yves Saint Laurent. His films are described as surreal, striking and fantastical, often weaving South Caucasus folklore and myths into his stories. They’re vivid portrayals of the cultures and traditions of Ukrainian, Armenian and Azerbaijani, among others. And in honour of the auteur’s centennial anniversary, Asian Film Archive brings together an extensive showcase of his work in Southeast Asia. The lineup features classics like Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965) and Ashik Kerib (1988), and rare experimental short films. There’s also a double bill screening of Andriesh (1954) and Golden Hands (1957).
The programme is accompanied by exclusive sessions with guest curator Daniel Bird, who helped work on the restoration of Parajanov’s 1969 sensation, The Colour of Pomegranates. These sessions include live audio-visual performances of rare outtakes from the film.
