The Color of Pomegranates (Նռան գույնը)

The Hamo Beknazaryan "Hayfilm" Studio presents:

THE COLOUR OF POMEGRANATES

Author of the Film: Sergei Parajanov

Director of Photography: Suren Shahbazyan

Production Designer: Stepan Andranikyan

Music: Tigran Mansurian

First Assistant Director: A. Samvelyan

Second Assistant Director: R. Zhamharyan

Sound Operator: Yu. Sayadyan

Camera Operator: Martuni Shahbazyan

Costume Design: E. Akhvlediani, I. Karalyan, Zh. Sarabyan

Make-Up: P. Aschyan, V. Asatryan

Set Decoration: Mikael Arakelyan

Visual Effects: L. Karamyan, H. Hovhannisyan

Script Editors: Bagrat Hovhannisyan, Perj Zeytuntsyan

Musical Editor: M. Berko

Musical Setting: Yuri Harutunyan

Choreographer: Sergei Parajanov

Architectural Consultant: V. Jorbenadze

Jewelry Designer: A. Asaturov

Production Manager: A. Melik-Sargsyan

Poet as a Youth, Poet's Love, The Nun in White Lace, The Angel of Resurrection, The Mime:

Sofiko Chiaureli

The poet as a child: M. Alekyan

The poet in the monastery: V. Galstyan

The poet as an old man: G. Gegechkori

The Prince: Hovhannes Minasyan

Supporting cast: S. Baghashvili, M. Japaridze, G. Matsukatov,

M. Bibileishvili, G. Margaryan, L. Karamyan,

G. Gabunia, B. Mirianashvili, I. Babayan,

B. Tatishvili, Zh. Gharibyan, T. Dvali,

E. Papakhanyan, Yu. Merdenov, Yu. Amiryan

This film does not attempt to tell the life story of a poet.

Rather, the filmmaker has tried to recreate the poet's inner world

through the trepidations of his soul, his passion and torments,

widely utilising the symbolism and allegories

specific to the tradition of Ashugh, the Medieval Armenian troubadours.

I am the man whose life and soul are torment.

I am the man whose life and soul are torment.

I am the man whose life and soul are torment.

I am the man whose life and soul are torment.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

On the sixth day, God said:

"Let us make mankind in our image,

in our likeness".

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created him.

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

The Lord God took the man

and put him in the Garden of Eden

to till the soil,

and take care of the Garden.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying...

Many have come before me, and vaguely known this amazing world,

they have extinguished and expired ahead of me.

Books must be well kept and read,

for books are Soul and Life.

Without books, the world would have witnessed nothing but ignorance.

Read aloud for the people to hear, in benefit of their souls,

for many are unable to read what is written.

From the colours and aromas of this world,

a poet's lyre my childhood did make, and offered it to me.

Saint George, we implore you, let your good fortune, your kind thoughts

spread over our family and our people. Along with your white horse,

be a stronghold for our people. Give prosperity to this family,

give them good thoughts and prosperity.

We were searching for ourselves in each other...

...has gone beyond measure.

In this healthy and beautiful life only I have been made to suffer.

Why is it so?

We were searching for a place of refuge for our Jove,

but instead, the road led us to the land of the dead.

You abandoned us and went away, but we the living wrapped you

in a cocoon, so that in your new world you would burst forth like a butterfly.

How am I to protect my wax-built castles of love

from the devouring heat of your fires?

You are fire.

You are dressed in...

You are fire.

You are dressed in...

fire.

You are fire. You are dressed in fire.

You are fire. You are dressed in fire.

You are fire. You are dressed in black.

You are dressed in black.

Which of these two fires can I endure?

Go then and find your refuge of selfless love.

I will go and search the monasteries one by one.

What is the name? What is the name?

Arutin.

Lord, have mercy.

Remember us, Lord, and have mercy on us.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, bountiful and merciful is your love,

have mercy on the soul of your servant,

the departed Arutin, who has joined you in Heaven.

Remember him on the day of your coming,

and forgive him all his sins...

Jamal, go faster!

He placed the hand of Eve into that of Adam, and Adam said:

"This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman, for she was taken out of Man.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother

and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

Godfather, what is your ward's name?

Arutin.

Little Arutin has come to ask to be baptised.

We baptise him in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

By the grace of the blood of Christ,

welcome him into your Father's heavenly kingdom,

so that he will be the heir to Christ

and the temple of the Jiving God.

Arutin!

Brothers of mine in soul and blood,