YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The State Fund of Films of Armenia received the films of the famous director Sergey Parajanov in Ukraine. The ceremonial handing of films was held at the Ukrainian Embassy in Armenia on September 25.
The films include–"The Best Guy,"The Flower on the Stone,"The Ukrainian Rhapsody," as well as the shorts "Skillful Hands," and "Natalya Uzhviy," which are not well-known to the Armenian filmgoers. The Armenia’s also gave the Ukrainians films shot in Armenia–including–"The Color of the Pomegranate,"Sayat Nova," and "Hakob Hovnatanian."
Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko–Director of the State Fund of Films of Armenia Garegin Zakoyan–Director of the Sergey Parajanov House-Museum Zaven Sargssian–Sergey Parajanov’s widow Svetlana Shcherbatyuk–and well-known Ukrainian-Armenian film director Roman Balayan attended the ceremony.
The event was held celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Parajanov Museum. According to the his widow–there is a new found interest in Parajanov’s works–and events are being organized in different countries–and books are published about her late husband. Shcherbatyuk said that the dearest for her is the book "Letters from the camp."
"He used to write to me from prison and asked to publish the letters abroad–but I said that the letters would be published here–in the homeland–and it turned out so."
Besides–the materials at her disposal Shcherbatyuk thanked Kora Tsereteli for his book "Confession" as well as for the work "Poetical cinema. Banned school" published in Kiev. Shcherbatyuk goes to Armenia every year–representing the Parajanov Museum.
Roman Balayan presented the museum with his film "A night in the Parajanov Museum." Director of the Museum Zaven Sargssian considers the film one of the best that have been shot in the memory of the renowned film director.
Unlike Parajanov–whose national roots can be observed in his works–Roman Balayan does not think that one’s nationality must be manifested in his works. He stated that he was a Soviet film director in the good sense of the word–but the national subject attracted him once–when he wished to shoot a film based on Yeghishe Charents’ novel "The Country Nairi," but he failed. However–Balayan heads the Union of Armenian Communities of Ukraine.
The major event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Parajanov Museum will be held at the Museum September 28.