The Everlasting Inspiration of The Color of Pomegranates

If you haven’t seen The Color of Pomegranates, it’s one of the most visually interesting films ever created. Directed by Sergei Parajanov, this 1969 Soviet Armenian art film romanticizes the culture and color of 18th-century Armenia and the life of Sayat-Nova, a poet.

Comprised of winding scenes of craft–from weavers making tapestries to others hand-making lace, The Color of Pomegranates tells a story through imagery and scattered poetic stanzas, rather than through a narrative lens. Here, you won’t find dialog or even a traditional linear sense of story-telling. Yes, The Color of Pomegranates covers Sayat-Nova’s childhood, courtship and death, but it’s up to the viewer to interpret much of the scenery, ranging from sheep slaughterings to moments in the bath house and beyond.

Throughout all of this, actress Sofiko Chiaureli plays six roles in the film which traverse gender through several chapters including Childhood, Youth, Prince’s Court, The Monastery, The Dream, Old Age, and The Angel of Death and Death.

If not for anything else, watch The Color of Pomegranates for its richly visual cultural cues. Parajanov said of the inspiration, that he “wanted to create that inner dynamic that comes from inside the picture, the forms and the dramaturgy of color.”

The landscapes and architecture is also a huge reason to watch the film. It was filmed in various historic locations including the Sanahin Monastery, the Haghpat Monastery, the St. John church at Ardvi, and the Akhtala Monastery in Armenia and, in Georgia, the Alaverdi Monastery, the countryside surrounding the David Gareja monastery complex, and the Dzveli Shuamta complex near Telavi. Azerbaijani locations included the Old City of Baku and Nardaran Fortress.

And who could dismiss the costumes and jewelry? The elaborate jewels, the subtle fabrics and the hats are all incredible.

Obviously, The Color of Pomegranates a visual aesthetic that has stood the test of time, as Lady Gaga’s 911 video released in September 2020 clearly took inspiration from the film.