The Colors of Parajanov
FEBRUARY 6-8
Filmhuis Den Haag presents a special Parajanov programme on 6, 7, and 8 February, dedicated to the poetic and radical oeuvre of Sergei Parajanov and his artistic legacy. Over the course of three days, we will screen rare films and provide context around one of the most influential filmmakers in cinema history.
The programme will be festively opened on Friday 6 February, in collaboration with the Armenian Embassy, which will host the opening reception. On this evening, we will welcome a special guest: Martiros Vartanov, heir to filmmaker Mikhail Vartanov and director of the Vartanov–Parajanov Institute, which is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of their work. This programme is organised in part at the initiative of Jan Hoekema, film enthusiast and Honorary Consul of Armenia.
The programme features key works by Sergei Parajanov, including the iconic The Colour of Pomegranates, a film that approaches cinema as living poetry, and The Legend of the Suram Fortress, in which Georgian folklore is translated into powerful, tableau-like images. In addition, we will screen Komitas and Avetik by Don Askarian, films that reflect Parajanov’s fascination with music, culture, and national identity.
The work of Mikhail Vartanov also takes a prominent place in the programme, with The Last Spring, The Color of Armenian Land, and Arabesques on the Pirosmani Theme. These films move between documentary, essay, and visual poem, and—like Parajanov’s work—reveal a deep connection to the Armenian landscape, history, and spiritual traditions.
This Parajanov programme is made possible with financial support from the Van den Ende Foundation.
IN THIS PROGRAM
The Last Spring (1992) + The Color of Pomegranates (1969)
February 6 - with introduction
A double bill pairing the lyrical realism of The Last Spring with the visionary, ritualistic cinema of The Colour of Pomegranates.
Arabesques on the Pirosmani Theme (1985) + The Last Spring (1992)
February 7 - with introduction
A double bill of poetic observation and visual homage, pairing Arabesques on the Pirosmani Theme with the quiet, pastoral lyricism of The Last Spring.
The Legend of the Suram Fortress (1985)
February 7
A mythic retelling of Georgian folklore, where sacrifice, fate, and national history are rendered in monumental, painterly tableaux.
Komitas (1988)
February 8
A haunting portrait of the Armenian composer Komitas, tracing trauma, exile, and cultural loss through music and fractured memory.
Avetik (1992)
February 8
An intimate meditation on a poet’s inner world, where personal expression and collective Armenian identity quietly intertwine.
The Color of Armenian Land (1969) + The Color of Pomegranates (1969)
February 8 - with introduction
A double bill exploring Armenian identity through image and memory, pairing the essayistic landscapes of The Color of Armenian Land with the iconic cinematic poetry of The Colour of Pomegranates.