Soviet director Inspires Artist in Exile in I Will Revenge This World

The legacy and inspiration of Soviet director Sergei Parajanov is at the center of I Will Revenge This World With Love – S. Parajanov, a new documentary from director Zara Jian, which premieres at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

The Hollywood Reporter has gotten the exclusive first look at the trailer for the film — see below — in which an impressive array of auteur directors, including Atom Egoyan, Tarsem Singh and Emir Kusturica, as well other artists such as Russian actress-in-exile Chulpan Khamatova discuss the impact of Parajanov’s cinema on their lives and work.

The Georgian-born Parajanov became a revolutionary force in international cinema with Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965), his first film to reject the socialist realism of officially-sanctioned Soviet cinema in favor of a more experimental, poetic visual storytelling. Hugely influential on independent and arthouse cinema — several of his movies, including Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors and The Colour of Pomegranates (1969) are listed among the greatest films of all time by Sight & Sound — Parajanov came under fire from Soviet authorities for his personal life (he was bisexual), his films and his political positions, in particular his support of Ukrainian nationalism and was twice imprisoned.

Jian uses the example of Parajanov’s life and work to reflect on current geopolitical crises and as an inspiration for artists everywhere who are oppressed or silenced by those in power.

“My goal was to make a film with heroes from all over the world, to reflect the impact Paradjanov has had internationally and throughout the years, not just during the Soviet region and era,” Jian said in a statement.

I Will Revenge This World With Love – S. Parajanov has its world premiere in the Venice Classics section of the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

Check out the exclusive trailer below.