Review of the movie « Sentimental Journey to the Paradzhanov planet »
Taras Tomenko’s new film « A Sentimental Journey to the Paradzhanov » was released into the Ukrainian rental. As soon as we recover from the success of the « Word House » tape, as the director presents a documentary movie about your favorite artist.
It is a small film that presents known facts from the life of director Sergei Paradzhanov, attracting archival materials, but does so with the help of a puppet theater.
Film Criticine UP. Culture of Sonya Allly He tells how Tomenko’s work is different from the power of a lot of films about Paradzhanov, who have seen the world in recent years. He also explains why this tape is a great basic acquaintance with the personality of a well -known director.
For the last few years, Sergei Paradzhanov’s work has been surrounded by extreme attention. His films are restored and demonstrated on the leading creative sites of the world. « Pomegranate color » does not disappear from the tops of the best movies of all time. More and more Ukrainian and international researchers are being chosen by their research.
To discuss, study and show Paradzhanov’s work is endless. After all, his mysterious author’s vision, complex national identity and a rather violent personal life have an inexhaustible, and therefore unattainable purpose in his idea – to unravel the artist’s philosophy.
In addition, a full -scale invasion with its rethinking and attention to Ukrainian culture increased its interest in this figure, reminding its Ukrainian component. It seemed that Paradzhanov – everywhere, but gradually the date of the Great Anniversary.
For the last few years, Sergei Paradzhanov’s work has been surrounded by extreme attention.
Frame from the movie
On January 9, 2024, 100 years since the birthday of the master were celebrated. In addition to the inspired film critics and synemates, a huge number of directors with different backgrounds have taken off films dedicated to the artist. The film industry eagerly supported the creation and display of such tapes. The last year’s name of genius appeared in festival programs so often that it was easy to get tired. Or even disappointed in how it is represented.
Many directors used Paradzhanov’s figure to promote their own interests. For example, the movie « I am revenge on this world with love – S. Paradzhanov » Zarya Jian from the Venice Festival of the Venice Festival last year. The director, who, after many years of emigration, returned to Armenia, created a documentary diary about herself, referring to the work of a famous director, as if identifying her and his experience.
Another example from this year’s Rotterdam Film Festival is the movie « Lilac Wind Paradzhanova » Uzbek author Ali Khamraev. In it, Hamraev did not seek to honor the artist’s figure, but rather used it to boast of his own ties with him.
These and other documentaries about the director are also supersaturated with archival materials that have been moving from the movie for years. How to fill the gaps between well -known archival facts, to tell something new and not to speculate on the figure of the artist remains a topical question.
Ukrainian director Taras Tomenko, one of the few, was able to find a creative alternative. After ten years of work on the « word » word « » and with the support of the TV channel « Public » he took the movie about Paradzhanov. In general, the trivial projects should not be expected from Tomenko, so this tape has an original rice-Paradzhanov appears like a pump-pump.
« Sentimental Journey » is a documentary-domain, built on well-known archives that are combined with the performances of the Paradzhanov-Marionette. Miniature theatrical scenes fill the gaps in archival data, continue stories, not fixed on the camera, or simply accompany the read material. Within 80 minutes, a pleasant overwhelming voice is carefully and chronologically passed by the pages of a well -known biography of the hero. And the territory is overlooked.
The director pays special attention to the stories around the « shadows of forgotten ancestors », framed by political protests, as well as the further arrest of the artist.
Frame from the movie
In his interview, the director has previously confessed to Paradzhanov’s extraordinary love, as well as an awareness of how mysterious and unattainable. These feelings of Tomenko managed to move into her film. He also shared that he was afraid to shoot the tape about the artist, and « every frame was difficult. » This fear is probably at the heart of the exceptional simplicity of the story that the movie tells.
The adjective « sentimental » stands in the name not for the sake of poetry. Telling Paradzhanov’s biography, the director stops at the most tragic points, as if sharing sadness with him. The doll-director is almost always in miniature theatrical mise-curls (beautifully shot by Yuri Dunai) alone with his indignation against the political regime.
The director pays special attention to the stories around the « shadows of forgotten ancestors », framed by political protests, as well as the further arrest of the artist. The way Paradzhanov spoke in defense of Ukrainian culture and its intellectuals and finally suffered persecution himself, this is the Ukrainian side of his personality, which is emphasized by the director.
« Sentimental Journey » is a documentary-domain, built on well-known archives that are combined with the performances of the Paradzhanov-Marionette.
Frame from the movie
At the same time, Tomenko does not attribute Paradzhanov to exclusively Ukrainian culture, as is often done now, but on the contrary – emphasizes his multiculturalism.
Although the film will not offer anything impressive new, it is in its limited ambitiousness that the secret of success lies. Tomenko very tactfully and inventively summarizes the basic facts about Paradzhanov’s life in a concise and pleasant format. Therefore, if you somehow have missed acquaintance with this director, « Sentimental Journey » is a great chance to finally discover Paradzhanov.
