A Sentimental Journey to the Parajanov Planet (2024) | Ottawa

Join us for a mesmerizing cinematic journey into the imaginative world of Sergei Parajanov — visionary filmmaker, artist, and one of cinema’s most enigmatic figures.

Directed by Taras Tomenko and produced by Pylyp Illienko and Andriy Ryzvaniuk, this full-length documentary marks the centenary of Parajanov’s birth, serving as an artistic homage to his life and creative legacy. The film was commissioned by public broadcaster Suspilne Ukraine for the 100th anniversary of Sergei Parajanov.

Combining rare archival materials, unseen footage, and surreal puppet sequences, A Sentimental Journey to the Parajanov Planet blurs the boundaries between fact and fantasy, revealing the depth of Parajanov’s genius and his defiance in the face of Soviet repression. Through a handcrafted puppet version of the filmmaker himself, the story unfolds as a poetic reflection on imagination, memory, and the power of art to transcend time and oppression.

The screening will be introduced by Pylyp Illienko, filmmaker and Chair of the Ukrainian Film Academy, followed by a Q&A session exploring the making of the film and Parajanov’s enduring influence on global cinema and art.

This event is part of Through Shadows and Memories, a two-part program celebrating the legacy of Sergei Parajanov and Ukrainian poetic cinema. The first screening in the series — Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965, dir. Sergei Parajanov, cinematography by Yurii Illienko) — was presented on November 27 at Mayfair Theatre.

Movie presented in ukrainian with english subtitles

Brought to you by Straw Bells Media in partnership with St. Volodymyr Institute and the Toronto Ukrainian Film Festival (TUFF)

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