506. Sayat Nova

Sayat Nova
The Color of Pomegranates
1969
Directed by Sergei Parajanov

This is one of those films that very few people get and the ones that claim to are often suspected of being pretentious posers.  It is not exact an appealing spectrum to fall on.  I happen to land on the idiot rating, I think, since I have no idea what that was and have no desire to see it again.

Apparently, this is the life story of a poet.  At least, that is what I read this film is about.  I never would have come to that conclusion by myself, since there is absolutely no plot structure.  I suppose that there is no denying that some of the images are beautiful.  There is also no denying that a film like this will bore most people to tears.

I didn't find any of the scenes particularly interesting; at least with something like Un Chien Andalou the images kept my attention.  Totally skippable.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Banned in the Soviet Union.

424. Tini Zabutykh Predkiv

Tini Zabutykh Predkiv
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
1964
Directed by Sergei Parajanov

Okay, can I start by giving a handy tip?  If you are putting subtitles on a movie, don't make the font white when the background is predominantly white.  Just don't do it!

When I started this film, I had the distinct feeling that I had seen it before.  The style seemed familiar and the somewhat nonsensical plot brought with it well remembered feelings of frustration and confusion.  Then I realized that The Book has made me watch the same type of movie over and over again and it can be...exhausting.

Anyway, this particular film is about Ivan, who falls in love with the daughter of the man who killed his father.  I know, this sounds like a great premise to a detective show.  Actually, it is way less interesting than that.  Ivan goes kind of insane, there is religious symbolism, blah blah blah.

Wow, these reviews are getting kind of lazy. Soon there might just be an emoticon that symbolizes how I feel.  2014 is the year of efficiency.

As frequent readers probably know, I am not a religious person so stories that have anything to do with that subject rarely hold my attention.  This film was trying to be artsy, clearly, but also tried to have a coherent plot.  This is a lethal combination.

So overall: :(

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Nothing terribly interesting about this one.  Surprise!

Available on YouTube: