Parajanov’s Mythic Quest for Love

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

For much of the 1970s, the legendary director Sergei Parajanov (1924–90) was imprisoned as a punishment for the crime of making mind-blowing movies. That’s the impression you get, at any rate, after experiencing “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors,” the filmmaker’s 1964 breakthrough, which begins a week-long run today at the BAMcinématek, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. This folk fever dream, seemingly possessed by pagan magic and infused with nonstop native music, roils with the all-consuming passion of its story about a shepherd, Ivan (Ivan Mikolajchuk), whose beloved Marichka (Larisa Kadochnikova) dies.

Have an account? Log In

To continue reading, please select:

Limited Access

Enter your email to read for FREE

Get 1 FREE article

Continue with
or
Unlimited Access

Join the Sun for a PENNY A DAY

$0.01/day for 60 days

Cancel anytime

100% ad free experience

Unlimited article and commenting access

Full annual dues ($120) billed after 60 days

By continuing you agree to our
Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Advertisement
The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use