“Confession,” 1990, Dir. Sergei Parajanov, 12 Min, Soviet Union

Surviving footage from Parajanov’s autobiographic final film, shot silently.

FORMAT: DCP

ASHIK KERIB, 1988, Dir. Sergei Parajanov, 78 Min, National Cinema Center of Armenia, Soviet Union

In Azerbaijani with English subtitles.

Parajanov’s final feature proves what a consistent visionary he was from SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS onwards. A Turkish fairy-tale set in Azerbaijan and once again, ASHIK KERIB interprets a legend of a Muslim minstrel wandering 1,000 days to win the hand of his beloved. The poet’s journey is illustrated with Parajanov’s signature Transcaucasian exuberance: calligraphy, flying carpets, inlaid woodwork, and Persian iconography all make appearances. Playfully scored in an eclectic mix of styles, even electronic music, ASHIK KERIB is Parajanov’s tenderest film. The director even joked to Film Comment around the film’s release, “It ends like an American movie!” Dedicated to memory of Andrei Takovsky, Ashik Kerib proved to be Parajanov’s own swan song.  He died of cancer two years after its release, he was 66 years old.

FORMAT: DCP

Cost: $8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)