Sergei Parajanov ( Sargis Hovsepi Parajanyan ; Sergej Iosifovich Paradzhanov ; also spelled Paradzhanov or Paradjanov ) , ( January 9 , 1924 - July 20 1990 ) , is considered by many to be one of the most original and critically-acclaimed filmmakers of the 20th century . Sergei Parajanov ( , ; , Sargis Hovsepi Parajanyan ; , Serhiy Yosypovych Paradzhanov ; Sergey Iosifovich Paradzhanov ; also spelled Paradzhanov or Paradjanov ) ( January 9 , 1924 â '' July 20 , 1990 ) was an Armenian film director and artist .