The unique publication Parajanov. Worlds. Screenplays and Letters from the Zone brings together the Latvian translations of screenplays and letters as well as collages and graphic art pieces by Armenian film director and artist Sergei Parajanov (1924–1990). It also includes essays by researchers of his output and those captivated by his work. Marking the author’s centenary, this book compiled by Karine Paronyanc and published by Pētergailis is the first selection of Parajanov’s writings in Latvian.

Born into an Armenian family, Parajanov grew up in Tbilisi – an artistic city brimming with carnival vibes. The code of Parajanov’s creativity is subject to tones, rhythms, poetry, and spontaneous improvisation true to his screen-playing nature. From the frescoes of Kyiv and ellipses so beloved by Parajanov to splashes of pomegranate colour and years in prison and repression under the Soviet regime. His most famous films include Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965) and The Colour of Pomegranates (1969), as well as such films created after a ban on his work as The Legend of the Surami Fortress (1985) and Ashik Kerib (1988). Parajanov was also an accomplished artist, creating numerous drawings, collages, installations, and assemblages.

Working in Armenian and Georgian film studios, Parajanov’s playful expression and open criticism of Soviet authority exposed him to the repressive nature of the state. For nearly ten years, he was banned from making films, and spent four years in a hard labour camp. Nonetheless, the director found the strength to return to filmmaking and continued to gain international recognition, receiving admiration for his work from Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Jean-Luc Godard, Akira Kurosawa, and many others.