The Colour of Pomegranates is all about the visuals. I could have picked almost any Parajanov film here, but I find the visuals of this poetic ode to Sayat Nova (a great Armenian ashik) to be his most visually stunning. I am yet to find films by other directors with compositional styles quite like those displayed here – perhaps the closest I know of is Raoul Ruiz'
Hypothesis of a Stolen Painting. This film is readily available on region 2 DVD since the excellent Second Sight released a special edition in 2011. If you enjoy these images I'd highly recommend buying a copy.
Top 3:
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| The composition of this image is so striking, especially in the film itself where the picture frame on the wall moves from side to side as the cherub rotates. Parajanov's typically sparse and tableau-style mise en scène is on full show. |
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| I love shots from strange perspectives, so this one is an all-time favourite of mine. It's difficult to tell which of the vertices are walls, which are roofs and if the boy is lying down or tied up. The books adorning all surfaces, riffling in the wind adds to the surreality of it. |
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| One of the most instantly recognisable shots from the film and the one which Second Sight chose for their DVD cover. The lace is used as a symbol many times in the film, here perhaps showing purity, innocence or youth (the white is changed to red at one point, then finally to black). |
The rest:
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| Such a bizarre shot. Amazing isolation of the focus. |
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| Very surreal imagery, if a bit busy compared to the rest of the film. |
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