Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

After being denied and repressed by a succession of rulers, traditional Ukrainian culture was reborn thanks to Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors. At the premiere in Kyiv the film had the effect of a(n) (anti-)revolutionary deed. 20 of the Ukrainian cultural elite were arrested. Paradzjanov and cameraman Iljenko ultimately won many international prizes for the film.

Paradzjanov’s prior films had still been (a)politically correct just as he had been taught at film school in Moscow, and which he distanced himself from. In Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors Paradzjanov’s style changed radically into something unique. With unusual camera movements and a contrasting soundtrack, he elicits a magical, surreal atmosphere. From this film on onwards he would create his own mythical reality.

In certain respects the director was definitely influenced by his time studying in Moscow: the natural lyricism is reminiscent of Earth by Dovzjenko, the Ukrainian who was his lecturer there. Paradzjanov’s idiosyncratic style was continued and expanded upon in The Color of Pomegranates and The Legend of Suram Fortress. This is the director’s cut of the film and is 15 minutes longer than the copy released in the Netherlands.