Probably one of the most breakneck and delirious films I have seen in a while, this is my first Sergei Parajanov work and if this is a signifier for the rest of his filmography it is a fantastic sign for the things to come. The combination of this culture which I have not seen in other films with the hyperactive imagination, striking music and rich cinematography (you have not seen red until you have seen this) makes it a masterpiece.

The camerawork is giddyingly wonderful. The story's hardly unique, but I don't mind since it's wrapped up in such a fascinating culture. The colours, the music, everything about this is superb... except at one point you can really obviously see a cameraman's shadow. More like Shadows of Our Forgotten Cameramen.

Using hardly any dialogue, and some shaky camerawork, Parajanov conjures an old rural Carpathian story with both authenticity and condensed aestheticism. The minimalistic plot is woven into a ceaseless succession of flamboyantly spectacular images set to richly varied and painfully beautiful music. Parajanov's symbolism is always elegant, creating the mood of a fairytale rather than that of a pompous art movie. Entrancing, dazzling, and one of the most ingeniously original movies of all time.

Incredible cinematography combined with hyper filmmaking. Almost as curious as a Brakhage film. The form of this film is definitely out of conventions and deserves further discussion.

#548

Breathtakingly gorgeous and visually inventive to the extreme. There are loads of wonderful things about the film (it's moving, the music and culture on show are engrossing, there's something poetic about the storytelling) but the camerawork remains my favourite bit. It might even be Parajanov's best film.

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is different from any other films. Parajanov created his own genre and style: mobile camera work, dialogues substituted for songs and traditional ukrainan sayings, settings with muted colors, etc. I am not going to suggest this film to every cinema aesthete because you need to be Ukrainian, I am afraid, to gasp and get it all.

One of a kind movie regarding the way it's shot; a kinetic, colourful Carpathian bliss-out.

Sui generis filmmaking, also probably the most heavily mustachioed film I've seen.

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is an extremely...unique film. This film is so hard to describe, If you even wanted to know what genre it is, I would have trouble telling you. Paradjanov's style is so different from ALL other directors. This films contains absolutely amazing cinematography, I mean the camerawork is something else. It is always moving, it is very fast paced, It was just incredible. The acting and the imagery were also extremely well done. Not for everybody.

567

Parajanov's prelude to \"Color of Pomegranates\" is badly in need of a dvd release. On Martin Scorsese's top-10 films for color cinematography. An incredibly visually dynamic Ukranian folk tale, full of witches and woods, romance and raw power. A must-see.

I've never seen a film shot quite like this. The camera is always finding dramatic angles, circling and whipping around suddenly to locate a new subject. The muted color palette is quite striking. The editing is quick and dynamic. As for the story, it's not especially complex or original: a tragic love story, shades of "Romeo and Juliet". But it is moving, and the glimpses of folk culture and religious imagery are fascinating.

wow I couldve shot this better with my butt

# 540

Stunningly beautiful and unique work with a dreamlike atmosphere. I must admit I found it really hard to get into it or take much out of it, the story being somewhat uninteresting. Thankfully the visuals and music blend in such a captivating way that it was still enjoyable even if it left me unsatisfied.

492

Pretty uninteresting and straightforward story. Good thing then, that there are enough beautiful shots here to keep me fascinated througout the film. This one's all about the sometimes stunning cinematography.