The Color of Pomegranates (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

…….or you may miss something! Well, that’s an exaggeration, but I recommend that the viewer not leave their seat during this 77-minute visual and poetic masterpiece of a film directed by Sergei Parajanov. This is one of those films where the plot is almost secondary to the visual feast and emotional experience. Furthermore, this film succeeds because of the unforgettable sounds and music that really put you in the place and time period. I really like the wide variety of instruments used in the film. This film is simply about a poet, but it’s built around unforgettable visuals and sounds. I wonder if Alejandro Jodorowsky drew some inspiration from this film when he made The Holy Mountain in 1973? I can certainly see how this film can be inspirational, because it’s so colorful and the sounds and visuals mesh beautifully, and there are powerful closeup shots throughout. Overall, The Color of Pomegranates is really a religious experience, all things considered. The Criterion Collection once again hits a home run with their blu ray with neat special features included. The Color of Pomegranates is exquisite filmmaking; it’s among the best of the best.

This film shows ancient Armenian people doing very simple chores and rites in a desert village, and focuses on the life of a particular poet. But, the concept of the film is that it depicts the world as perceived in the mind of that poet -- and this is what transforms otherwise ordinary settings and scenarios into truly awesome scenes with great mystery, beauty, humor, and wonderfully hypnotic motion. Each scene seems like its own miniature story, with its own surreal dynamics -- like some kind of technical demonstration or skit -- but, the scenes nonetheless fit together in the overall story of the poet's life. Some parts are so wonderfully creative or surprising that one might laugh in delight. And the visual effects are often so amazing that one might wonder how they were accomplished in 1969 Soviet Armenia.The often playful joy of the first half of the movie gradually transitions to quite grim themes in the latter half of the movie. And there are some scenes with real butchering of animals -- and I know those scenes serve the story, but I could have done without them. So, one might need some chocolate cake and coffee to bounce back to baseline after watching the whole film -- but, this is a truly transporting film, where the "juxtaposition" of seemingly simple living, against behaviors and phenomena which seem surreal or science fiction, is stunning from beginning to end.

One of these days I’ll understand this film in full but only halfway there so far. Entertaining watch though

I had old boot leg VHS Copies and still have old foreign DVD releases of his films. I am older and it was not that long ago even a poor quality copy was at least something so finally getting to see this film restored is a joy! I do not think many truly appreciate the access we enjoy now to films that even a couple decades ago took serious effort and capital to procure a copy. I was lucky to live in a neighborhood with a very eccentric video store owner who had an amazing selection of films no other video store would carry in the 80-90s. It allowed me exposure to Many films I otherwise would never have known existed and it instilled a love for the art of film. Thank you criterion for the continued remaster work on older films like this.

A masterpiece of cinema if ever there was one.

I know why you bought this, it's the same reason I did. And it will do the trick. Not so much of a movie to watch stone cold sober, but on those higher doses when you really want to let go and let your mind wonder. Weird? Yes. Trippy? Definitely. Will you be lost at the end? For sure. But it's a fun and fascinating and you will be left with the lingering question...what is life?

Avant-garde at its finest

One of my favorite films of all-time. This Criterion version contains the Armenian cut which is also Paradjanov’s preferred version.