The Color of Armenian Land

Release Date: 1969-10-01

Overview: In his wordless debut film, Mikhail Vartanov presents the ancient and modern art of Armenia through the post-impressionist painter Martiros Saryan’s silent commentary of gestures. Biblical landscapes, the ruins of temples, frescos, cross-stones, contemporary sculptures of Tchakmakchian (Chakmakchyan), the first appearance on film of iconic modernist painter Minas and his paintings, as well as the world famous behind-the-scenes episodes of Sergei Parajanov’s landmark "The Color of Pomegranates (Sayat Nova)." The film had its first public screening at one of the world’s largest and prestigious cinematic events, the Busan International Film Festival, 43 years after it was made.

Rating: 5.8 / 10

Cast

Sergei Parajanov

as Himself

Mikhail Vartanov

as Himself

Minas Avetisyan

as Himself, painter

Sofiko Chiaureli

as Sayat Nova (archive footage)

Martiros Saryan

as Himself, Painter