Artavazd Peleshyan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Artavazd Peleshyan
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Peleshyan in 2008
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| Born | February 22, 1938 (age 87) |
| Nationality | Armenian |
| Alma mater | All-Union State Institute of Cinematography |
| Occupation | director, documentarian, screenwriter, film theorist |
| Years active | 1964–present |
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Notable work
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Seasons of the Year |
| Spouse(s) | Aïda Galstyan |
| Awards | People's Artist of the Armenian SSR Merited Artist of the Russian Federation |
Artavazd Peleshyan (Armenian: Արտավազդ (Արթուր) Փելեշյան, romanized: Artavazd (Art’ur) P’eleshyan) was born on February 22, 1938. He is an Armenian film director and writer. He is known for making unique films that are like a mix of documentaries and art films.
Peleshyan created a special way of filming called "distance montage." This style combines wide shots with close-ups of things moving towards the camera. Imagine seeing a big group of animals or people, then suddenly they seem very close.
Another famous filmmaker, Sergei Parajanov, called Peleshyan "one of the few real geniuses in cinema." Peleshyan has received important awards for his work. These include "Merited Artist" titles from both the Armenian and Russian governments.
His films often feel like a poem brought to life on screen. They are not like regular documentaries. They explore ideas and feelings rather than just showing facts.
Peleshyan often used old film clips in his movies. But for his most famous film, Seasons of the Year, he filmed everything new. He also used special Telephoto lenses to capture people doing everyday things without them knowing.
Most of his films are short, from 6 to 60 minutes long. They usually have no talking. Instead, music and sounds are very important. They help tell the story and create the mood. Almost all his films are in black-and-white.
Contents
Artavazd Peleshyan's Films
Artavazd Peleshyan made many films during his career. Even his early student films won awards. Here are some of his important works:
Early Works and Unique Styles
- The Beginning (1967): This film is about the October Revolution of 1917. Peleshyan used a special visual trick here. He would hold a film frame still, then quickly move forward a second or two, and then pause again. This made the images look like they were stuttering.
- We (1967): This film tells the story of Armenia and its people in a poetic way.
- Inhabitants (1970): This movie explores the connection between wild animals and humans.
Most Famous Film: Seasons of the Year
Many film experts believe Seasons of the Year (1975) is Peleshyan's most important film. It looks at how humans and nature can be both different and in harmony. This film was also the last time Peleshyan worked with Mikhail Vartanov, a key cinematographer. They had worked together before on The Autumn Pastoral (1971).
Later Films and Recognition
Because Armenia was not a major center for international films, Peleshyan's work was not widely known at first. After the Soviet Union ended, he made two more short films: Life (1993) and The End (1994). He now lives in Moscow. His most recent film, Nature, was finished in 2006 and first shown in 2020.
Peleshyan also wrote books about filmmaking, like My Cinema (1988).
Filmography
As director
- Mountain Vigil (1964)
- Earth of People (1966)
- The Beginning (1967)
- Dream (1968)
- We (1969)
- Inhabitants (1970)
- Stellar Minute (1972)
- Seasons of the Year (1975)
- Our Century (1982)
- God in Russia (1984)
- The End (1992)
- Life (1993)
- Nature (2020)
As screenwriter
- The Autumn Pastoral (1971) (directed by Mikhail Vartanov)
- Homo Sapiens (1979)
- Desert (1984)
As actor
- We and Our Mountains (1969) (as Revaz)
- The Silence of Peleshyan (2011) (himself)
