MAGICAL WORLD OF SERGEI PARAJANOV
“
I am an Armenian born in Tbilisi who is imprisoned in Russia for Ukrainian nationalism.
About project
The play is about the outstanding Armenian film director, screenwriter, and artist Sergei Parajanov.
The play will have two plot lines.
One story is based on the novel Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors that tells a "Romeo and Juliet tale" of young Ukrainian Hutsul lovers trapped on opposite sides of a Carpathian family blood feud.
The other narrative tells the story of Sergei Parajanov in Russian prison for Ukrainian nationalism, which he was charged with.
Sergei Parajanov is regarded by film critics, film historians and filmmakers to be one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in cinema history. He invented his own cinematic style, which was out of step with the guiding principles of socialist realism; the only sanctioned art style in the USSR. This, combined with his lifestyle and behaviour, led the Soviet authorities to repeatedly persecute and imprison him, and suppress his films. Despite this, Parajanov was named one of the 20 Film Directors of the Future by the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
The play will have two plot lines.
One story is based on the novel Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors that tells a "Romeo and Juliet tale" of young Ukrainian Hutsul lovers trapped on opposite sides of a Carpathian family blood feud.
The other narrative tells the story of Sergei Parajanov in Russian prison for Ukrainian nationalism, which he was charged with.
Sergei Parajanov is regarded by film critics, film historians and filmmakers to be one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in cinema history. He invented his own cinematic style, which was out of step with the guiding principles of socialist realism; the only sanctioned art style in the USSR. This, combined with his lifestyle and behaviour, led the Soviet authorities to repeatedly persecute and imprison him, and suppress his films. Despite this, Parajanov was named one of the 20 Film Directors of the Future by the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
Тіні забутих предків
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
It is a 1965 Ukrainian film by the Armenian filmmaker Sergei Parajanov based on the novel Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors by Ukrainian writer Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky that tells a "Romeo and Juliet tale" of young Ukrainian Hutsul lovers trapped on opposite sides of a Carpathian family blood feud. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is considered to be the most internationally heralded Ukrainian film in history, and a classic of Ukrainian magical realist cinema. Likewise, his second work, The Colour of Pomegranate, is still considered innovative among the imaginative class.
“
My 9th film was Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. That’s when I found my theme.
I focused on ethnography, God, love, and tragedy. That’s what literature and film are to me. After I made this film, tragedy stuck. I was an Armenian in Ukraine dealing with Ukrainian issues.
I was awarded 23 gold medals for this film. I was known and recognized in Ukraine. The Ukrainians loved me. My wife was Ukrainian, my son was Ukrainian. But this was not liked in certain circles.
I focused on ethnography, God, love, and tragedy. That’s what literature and film are to me. After I made this film, tragedy stuck. I was an Armenian in Ukraine dealing with Ukrainian issues.
I was awarded 23 gold medals for this film. I was known and recognized in Ukraine. The Ukrainians loved me. My wife was Ukrainian, my son was Ukrainian. But this was not liked in certain circles.
“
The film was not only shot in Ukrainian, but also in the Hutsul dialect [of the Ukrainian language].
The ministry asked me to dub the film in Russian but I turned them down categorically.
The ministry asked me to dub the film in Russian but I turned them down categorically.
“
I made a film that broke the socialist concept.
In a country under totalitarian rule, this was a crime.
And yet Parajanov was given the opportunity to rehabilitate himself - Frescoes of Kiev is a film about the price of victory for the Kiev people during World War II. A theme that should have brought the stubborn director back into the mainstream of social realism, but Parajanov made his scandalous version of the film.
The officials were shocked when they saw the screen tests. Instead of classical genre scenes they saw a succession of mystical images to almost pornographic scenes and this film is about World War II?!
Production was halted.
The film has been confiscated.
A blackout ensued for Paradjanov.
The officials were shocked when they saw the screen tests. Instead of classical genre scenes they saw a succession of mystical images to almost pornographic scenes and this film is about World War II?!
Production was halted.
The film has been confiscated.
A blackout ensued for Paradjanov.
The director, who was critical of the Soviet authorities, paid the price for his independence by being charged with "homosexuality and criminal trading in cocoons" and imprisoned.
“
The Soviets accused me of Ukrainian nationalism.
I was arrested and imprisoned for 5 years. A harsh sentence.
A terrifying ordeal, the years of imprisonment included beatings, hunger, humiliation, and suicide attempts.
I was arrested and imprisoned for 5 years. A harsh sentence.
A terrifying ordeal, the years of imprisonment included beatings, hunger, humiliation, and suicide attempts.
While he was incarcerated, Parajanov produced a large number of miniature doll-like sculptures and some 800 drawings and collages, many of which were later displayed in Yerevan, where the Sergei Parajanov Museum is now permanently located.
“
I'm swollen with hunger. Lilya Brick sent me some bread and salami, some French sweets. The warden ate it all. I sniffed the wrappers. I work as a cleaner. The other day, someone spilled water on the floor. All night long, standing in icy water, I shoveled water into buckets. Barking blood. Is this the end of me? I long for freedom. Where I am is terrifying!"
“
It was a tragedy for me to be isolated because I could lose my career, and maybe become a criminal forever. I am surrounded by bloody people. Many have lost their human face. They deliberately threw me in there to destroy me.
I was lucky to find myself in that situation. I took up art and started drawing. Each confession they whispered into my ear about their tragedy or their crimes was like a wonderful play or novel. I have 100 stories and 6 scripts now.
I was lucky to find myself in that situation. I took up art and started drawing. Each confession they whispered into my ear about their tragedy or their crimes was like a wonderful play or novel. I have 100 stories and 6 scripts now.
“
On the back of one convict
I saw a Joconde tattoo; as he lifted his arms, the skin stretched and she smiled; when he bent over, she frowned; and when he scratched behind his ear, she winked at us; she was smirking and making faces at us.
In total isolation, I created one of my favorite works - a weeping Joconde. La Joconde mourns for me in case I die alone.
I saw a Joconde tattoo; as he lifted his arms, the skin stretched and she smiled; when he bent over, she frowned; and when he scratched behind his ear, she winked at us; she was smirking and making faces at us.
In total isolation, I created one of my favorite works - a weeping Joconde. La Joconde mourns for me in case I die alone.
It helped me get through 4 years and 11 months of making collages every day.
“
My friends believe that in the midst of all that filth I achieved amazing purity in my work and my spirituality
Parajanov served four years out of his five-year sentence, and later credited his early release to the efforts of the French Surrealist poet and novelist Louis Aragon, the Russian poet Elsa Triolet (Aragon's wife), Lili Brik and the American writer John Updike. His early release was authorized by Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This was presumably a consequence of Brezhnev's chance meeting with Aragon and Triolet at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. When asked by Brezhnev if he could be of any assistance, Aragon requested the release of Parajanov, which was effected in December 1977.
“
Now I'm free, but I don't feel safe; I live in constant fear of being imprisoned again because I don't work; I have no right to exist since I'm outside the law; I'm not afraid of death, but this life is more painful than death.
“
Everyone knows that I have three motherlands. I was born in Georgia, worked in Ukraine and I'm going to die in Armenia.
Death
He died of cancer in Yerevan, Armenia on July 20, 1990, aged 66, leaving this final work, The Confession, unfinished. It survives in its original negative as Parajanov: The Last Spring. Federico Fellini, Tonino Guerra, Francesco Rosi, Alberto Moravia, Giulietta Masina, Marcello Mastroianni and Bernardo Bertolucci were among those who publicly mourned his death. They sent a telegram with the following statement: "The world of cinema has lost a magician. Parajanov’s fantasy will forever fascinate and bring joy to the people of the world…”
Why I want to make performance about Sergei Parajanov
I was 11 years old. In the summer, film classics were shown in small courtyards in Vilnius.
I remember sitting with my friends in one courtyard when, for the first time in my life, I saw the film The Color of Pomegranates. I was completely struck by the beauty and poetry of that film.
I came back home and asked my parents who Parajanov was. As a child, my parents taught me about the famous filmmaker and artist. Then, I worked at UWC Dilijan College (Armenia) and visited the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan. When I saw the collages, dolls and drawings live I fell in love with Parajanov even more.
I found out more details about his imprisonment and another topic caught my attention. It's not just the beauty of his works, but also the theme of spiritual power. I learned how Parajanov suffered in prison. It seems impossible to live after that, but this man doesn't give up. He survives in that terrible world, stays free and continues to create and even makes films. But then, in 2018 I didn't know how to make performance about Parajanov. I didn't want to simply retell his life story. So I was waiting. And then this horrible war started. I am Lithuanian, but I worked in Moscow as a theatre director and actress.
For me this war is a total disaster, cause I have lots of friends (actors) from Ukraine. We even made one film in Odessa in 2013. I also worked with Russian and Ukrainian colleagues, and then, in 2013, we all became friends. Now, they are enemies forever. Thousands of people dieng every day. I watched Parajanov films again. And now I understand how I can create a theatre performance about Parajanov. I want to merge the story from Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors with Parajanov's real-life experience in prison.Every day, I read about catastrophes in Ukraine in the news. And it appears that there is no hope, but Parajanov's life and films portray another side of this horrible life. Parajanov said: "I will avenge them with love." Parajanov teaches us the value of love, patience and hope. Sergei Parajanov's name was deleted from the prison, the films were banned, and still, like grass breaking through asphalt, he broke through.
His dream is to reunite all people without borders, respecting their religions and cultures.
His work is a message to future generations. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a gorgeous Ukrainian love story. Also, as Parajanov, I graduated from VGIK and I am a theatrical and film director. Parajanov is a teacher to me. He always sought realism and magical realism in his works as I do.
So creating a theatre performance about Parajanov is a challenge.
I remember sitting with my friends in one courtyard when, for the first time in my life, I saw the film The Color of Pomegranates. I was completely struck by the beauty and poetry of that film.
I came back home and asked my parents who Parajanov was. As a child, my parents taught me about the famous filmmaker and artist. Then, I worked at UWC Dilijan College (Armenia) and visited the Sergei Parajanov Museum in Yerevan. When I saw the collages, dolls and drawings live I fell in love with Parajanov even more.
I found out more details about his imprisonment and another topic caught my attention. It's not just the beauty of his works, but also the theme of spiritual power. I learned how Parajanov suffered in prison. It seems impossible to live after that, but this man doesn't give up. He survives in that terrible world, stays free and continues to create and even makes films. But then, in 2018 I didn't know how to make performance about Parajanov. I didn't want to simply retell his life story. So I was waiting. And then this horrible war started. I am Lithuanian, but I worked in Moscow as a theatre director and actress.
For me this war is a total disaster, cause I have lots of friends (actors) from Ukraine. We even made one film in Odessa in 2013. I also worked with Russian and Ukrainian colleagues, and then, in 2013, we all became friends. Now, they are enemies forever. Thousands of people dieng every day. I watched Parajanov films again. And now I understand how I can create a theatre performance about Parajanov. I want to merge the story from Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors with Parajanov's real-life experience in prison.Every day, I read about catastrophes in Ukraine in the news. And it appears that there is no hope, but Parajanov's life and films portray another side of this horrible life. Parajanov said: "I will avenge them with love." Parajanov teaches us the value of love, patience and hope. Sergei Parajanov's name was deleted from the prison, the films were banned, and still, like grass breaking through asphalt, he broke through.
His dream is to reunite all people without borders, respecting their religions and cultures.
His work is a message to future generations. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a gorgeous Ukrainian love story. Also, as Parajanov, I graduated from VGIK and I am a theatrical and film director. Parajanov is a teacher to me. He always sought realism and magical realism in his works as I do.
So creating a theatre performance about Parajanov is a challenge.
Performance
Parajanov himself is a master of collage.
According to Parajanov, visual art should create an image rather than feed on dialogue or conversation to make it clear.
So, in this performance, visuality is significantly more significant to me than talk or words.
Performance incorporates crucial moments from Parajanov's life, fragments of films, collages, puppets.
I will use Parajanov's letters from prison, excerpts from film and film scrips.
The costumes, the objects and the video are all highly significant in this performance.
In this performance, video, audio, and lighting are all key elements.
According to Parajanov, visual art should create an image rather than feed on dialogue or conversation to make it clear.
So, in this performance, visuality is significantly more significant to me than talk or words.
Performance incorporates crucial moments from Parajanov's life, fragments of films, collages, puppets.
I will use Parajanov's letters from prison, excerpts from film and film scrips.
The costumes, the objects and the video are all highly significant in this performance.
In this performance, video, audio, and lighting are all key elements.
About director
My name is Greta Šuščevičiūtė.
I'm a theatre and cinema director, actress and screenwriter from Lithuania.
I graduated from VGIK (university of cinematography) in 2014.
I made more than 30 performances in leading theatres (Bolshoi Ballet and Opera Theatre (new stage), Stanislavsky
Electrotheatre,
State Stanislavsky Music Theatre (MAMT),
Eug.Vakhtangov theatre, Art Theatre (MXAT), School of modern play,
A.A. Barsacq and e.t. directed L'Atalante theatre.
I made different movies. Worked as a screenwriter on several film projects. I have experience as an acting teacher. When the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine began in February, I returned to Lithuania and now live and work in Vilnius.
I also have lots of ideas and plans for theater and cinema projects on which I am working at the moment (some operas and films).
I'm a theatre and cinema director, actress and screenwriter from Lithuania.
I graduated from VGIK (university of cinematography) in 2014.
I made more than 30 performances in leading theatres (Bolshoi Ballet and Opera Theatre (new stage), Stanislavsky
Electrotheatre,
State Stanislavsky Music Theatre (MAMT),
Eug.Vakhtangov theatre, Art Theatre (MXAT), School of modern play,
A.A. Barsacq and e.t. directed L'Atalante theatre.
I made different movies. Worked as a screenwriter on several film projects. I have experience as an acting teacher. When the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine began in February, I returned to Lithuania and now live and work in Vilnius.
I also have lots of ideas and plans for theater and cinema projects on which I am working at the moment (some operas and films).
You can see my portfolio below.
Contacts
Vilnius, Lithuania
Phone: +37066822438
Email: susceviciutegreta@yahoo.com
Phone: +37066822438
Email: susceviciutegreta@yahoo.com
More about me
