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Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is the first major work by the controversial Russian filmmaker Sergei Parajadnov. Although acclaimed internationally, Paradjanov s visionary and poetic oeuvre was regarded as subversive by the Soviet authorities and he was frequently banned from filmmaking and imprisoned. Set within a Gutsul community in the Ukranian Carpathian mountains, this visually stunning and richly detailed tale of a young man who yearns for a lost love is a beguiling mix of folklore, sorcery and religious symbolism, which brought Paradjanov to prominence and won numerous awards.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is Paradjanov's stunningly beautiful story of Ivan and his love for Marichka. The story of love and loss is set amongst the rich alpine culture and customs of the Hutzul people of the Carpathian Mountain region of Ukraine.
The first 20 minutes has to be one of the most compelling opening sequences ever seen - colour, costumes, cultural artifacts, camera movements and characters collide in the most phantasmagorically delirious set of images yet committed to film.
The story unfolds like a fairy tale, through a series of self-contained chapters, each revealing aspects of the characters lives. Although there is a more obvious linear narrative than in Paradjanov's films hereafter, many still find the film 'difficult'. I think this has as much to do with the revelation of this little known culture as it has to do with the style and form of the film-making. Nevertheless, it is a work that falls some way outside of the mainstream, but if you like art, painting and cultural difference, it shouldn't be a burden but a delight.
There are wonderful songs and folk music throughout and an orchestral score by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk, which when combined with the images in places is positively psychedelic.
This particular transfer is not without its problems. Because the blacks are so solid, in places a great deal of detail that I know should be there is lost, to the detriment of some very beautiful scenes. But generally the colours are vibrant and the picture quality is clean and sharp.
This is one of the great films - lets say works of art - of all time. Get your own slice of world heritage on a disc, now!
The first 20 minutes has to be one of the most compelling opening sequences ever seen - colour, costumes, cultural artifacts, camera movements and characters collide in the most phantasmagorically delirious set of images yet committed to film.
The story unfolds like a fairy tale, through a series of self-contained chapters, each revealing aspects of the characters lives. Although there is a more obvious linear narrative than in Paradjanov's films hereafter, many still find the film 'difficult'. I think this has as much to do with the revelation of this little known culture as it has to do with the style and form of the film-making. Nevertheless, it is a work that falls some way outside of the mainstream, but if you like art, painting and cultural difference, it shouldn't be a burden but a delight.
There are wonderful songs and folk music throughout and an orchestral score by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk, which when combined with the images in places is positively psychedelic.
This particular transfer is not without its problems. Because the blacks are so solid, in places a great deal of detail that I know should be there is lost, to the detriment of some very beautiful scenes. But generally the colours are vibrant and the picture quality is clean and sharp.
This is one of the great films - lets say works of art - of all time. Get your own slice of world heritage on a disc, now!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A superb film which was hated by the Soviets at the time as it portrayed a part of Ukraine still stuck in tradition and beliefs of the old country. The film captures really well the the magic and the mist of the mountains and vividly portrays the superstition of the people living there.Magical.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The first major movie by the Georgian-born Armenian director Sergei Paradjanov (he has made some movies before that few people have seen, and they are apparently in the conventional Soviet style). This is set in a village in Western Ukraine, in the forested Carphatian Mountains, among the Hutsul ethnic group. The movie has a terrific opening, as a man is killed by a falling tree over a snow-covered mountain, with a POV from the top of the tree. After that, you get Paradjanov, with its frantic mixture of ethnography, folklore, religion, odd camera movements, music, dance, color. Among all this, a sort of plot emerges, with the story of the crazy love between Ivan and Marichka, a couple belonging to feuding families, and of Ivan's life and marriage with another woman called Palagna after Marichka's tragic death. The era in which the action takes place is never determined, though one suspects it is some centuries ago. On the whole, I like Paradjanov's future feature, the extremely manneristic The Color of Pomegranates better, but I this is very much well worth seeing to any cinema lover.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Carpathian rhapsody
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia of Armenian parents, to call Sergei Paradjanov a Soviet director is merely an historical description, not an aesthetic one or one which he would have much... Read more
Published 3 months ago by GlynLuke
Incridible movie.
I watched this movie a couple of months ago(download from bitorrent), its just a materpiece so i had to buy it.
Published 5 months ago by votprkv
stunning imagery, story at times so-so, sometimes thrills
The story: in the foothills of the Ukrainian Carpathian mountains, young Ivan grows up with a family feud going on - in which his father is killed. Read more
Published 9 months ago by H. Beentje
Beautful, strong, exciting
A very very interesting film made in the sixties, at a time when a dozen of beautiful Russian films were made. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Gusse
Not as described
I bought this as a Christmas present for a friend who is learning Russian. On Amazon, it is described as being in Russian with English subtitles. Read more
Published 17 months ago by L. Lodge
Artificial Eye R2 Picture Quality
The same print as the R1 2008 Kino edition, but with a perceptibly sharper image. If you're a PQ fanatic w/a region-free DVD player, you should consider moving up.
Published on 16 May 2010 by Doctor John
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