With wall-to-wall ethnic music and a highly-theatrical style, Parajanov’s last completed feature may be the most accessible of his most well-known folkloric works, best described as an experimental Fellini on steroids.
Told in numerous short vignettes, Parajanov’s late Georgian film retains the exotic, cultural elements that define his work, but occasionally struggles to find a balance between experimentation and storytelling.
Parajanov’s free-wheeling breakthrough film is a remarkable sensorial work that could hardly contain its dizzying energy—a showcase of a filmmaker at the height of his artistic expression.
As fascinating as it is arcane, this visually and aurally arresting work from Armenia defeats categorization, but is indescribably hypnotic.
