Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

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William L Terms that come to mind when watching Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors - vivid, frantic, colorful, and manic. Parajanov depicts the life of Ukrainian Hutsul Ivan as a whirlwind of emotion, violence, and culture, leaning heavily into bright depictions of the peculiarities of local folklore and tradition. Taking a step back from the narrative to view it at a high level, there really isn't much to separate the plot from many other Eastern European depression parades - celebration of local customs contrasted against often miserable existences, with the occasional glimmer of hope thrown in - but it's assembled with a production value to both the imagery and soundtrack that totally elevates the final product. Plus, the film is an endless deluge of symbolism, particularly religious, that can be endlessly picked apart and analyzed in pursuit of the 'true' interpretation. Seldom could you ever hope to see a camera in motion in the way that it is deployed in this film, catching characters in moments of exuberance and turmoil, violently shaking in a way that nudges the audience towards a degree of emotional involvement. In an artistic industry that was tightly controlled by the state, it's immediately evident why this film instigated Parajanov's problems with government censorship, while also heralding his arrival on the international circuit. (4/5) Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/07/21 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. Too avant garde for me. Some bizarre original ideas for filming and telling visual stories though. Ultimately, it was a chore. Saw it on youtube. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review david l Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors manages to somewhat compensate for its lackluster plot and characterization with great artistry in its incredible cinematography, a terrific score, fantastic direction from Sergei Parajanov and frequently inspired editing. It depicts its setting so well while consistently being very atmospheric. Still, the plot remains very weak, and as a result the movie is only solid and quite overrated. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review raphael g Masterful work. So beautiful. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review jack c Hunter S Thompson once wrote, "it never got weird enough for me." If he were alive I'd ask if ever laid his crazed genius eyes on this. It makes the feverish camera if I Am Cuba look as minimalist as Stranger Than Paradise. Near the cameraman isn't AS insane in the last third of the film as in the rest, but it's still such a virtuoso directing and it using light and sound and horses and houses and uh skeletons on tree branches and ALL THE IMAGERY JESUS CHRIST EVER INSPIRED. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors calls out for a different way to make cinema that is ambitious and delirious and so out there as to be both sacred AND profane, if that can make any sense. A part of me may even love the film for how much it embraces the wild and the visual, like if it was done during the silent film era it might be even stronger (albeit we would lose the many Russian songs and music which is part of the whole piece it is). There are no rules that can't be broken for Parajanov which is liberat KH and thrilling. And dangerous. If only I could connect more to Ivankos plight and struggle instead of admiring it on a technical level (yeah I think I'm turninng into that asshole on the movie like in Annie Hall), if Parajanov made Ivankos interior struggle or the mania that his wife succumbs to once into sorcery and lust in another man, then it would be a masterpiece (possibly). Since the movie Is presented in such a subjective way I can't help but respond to what I see as honestly as possible, and it's both impressive for just how far this director and his DP get on the train to complete abandon of realism while at the same time leaving me... cold somehow, on a first viewing. I must stress that the issue may be more with me - I understand what is going on, how much the film is sad and heart rending like a poem that is howling to the winds and heavens, and the actors sell it best they can - and I don't regret seeing it for a second. Holy vodka sauce batman this may take some time to process, although a part of me thought it funny that it reminded me of my own feature, 'Green Eyes', only this time suffused in folklore and hysteria. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Set in the Carpathians, this film of love & loss is a delight to the senses, & is quite possibly the greatest non-silent Russian film I'm ever seen. Paradzhanov is a cinematic genius I'm happy to finally know. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

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