Sergei Parajanov

Sergei Parajanov ( Sargis Hovsepi Parajanyan;  Sergej Iosifovich Paradzhanov; also spelled Paradzhanov or Paradjanov), (January 9, 1924 – July 20 1990), is considered by many to be one of the most original and critically acclaimed filmmakers of the 20th century. His work reflected the ethnic diversity of the Caucasus where he was raised.

 Early life 
He was born to Armenian parents Iosif Paradjanyan and Siranush Bejanyan, in Tbilisi, Georgia. In 1945, Parajanov traveled to Moscow, enrolled in the directing department at VGIK, one of the oldest and highly respected film schools of Europe, and studied under the tutelage of directors Igor Savchenko and Aleksandr Dovzhenko.

 Personal life 
In 1950 Parajanov married his first wife, Nigyar Kerimova in Moscow. She came from a Muslim Tatar family and converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity to marry Parajanov, to terrible consequences: she was later murdered by her relatives in retaliation for her conversion. As a result of this tragic event Parajanov moved to Kyiv. There he produced several documentaries (Dumka, Golden Hands,
Natalia Uzhvy) and a handful of narrative films based on Ukrainian and Moldovan folktales, such as Andriesh, Ukrainian Rhapsody, and Flower on the Stone. He became fluent in Ukrainian, remarried (Svetlana Ivanovna Sherbatiuk in 1956) and had a son (Suren, 1958).

Filmography

 1967: Sayat Nova
 1984: SURAMI BERD
 1986: ASHUGH GHARIB

Category:1924 births
Category:1990 deaths
Category:Movie directors from Georgia (country)
Category:Armenian movie directors
Category:20th-century Armenian people