Ararat
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Movie Reviews of Ararat
Movie Review: The Truth Hurts But It Can Be Beautiful And Full of Awen
Summary: 5 Stars
I had not wanted to watch Ararat, as I had not liked Egoyan's Calender, however, knowing Aznavour was appearing in the movie,I felt I had to see it. It was brilliant and full of Awen (Celtic word for devine inspiration). My audio play "1921 the Christmas Letter" had just begun airing on radio stations and is about the Armenian Genocide and I only wish I knew where to send it to Egoyan and Aznavour as thank you presents. My family was from Kerope (only 56 known survivors) and my father now 93, escaped from Turkey to Russia, got caught up in the Russian Revolution, and then escaped back into Turkey and then to America, all by the age of ten. I've lived with the Genocide all my life and am tired of people not even knowing what an Armenian is. This movie is about all genocides, and it touched me to the depths of my soul. As a writer I loved the subtlety and the stories within stories, as well as the almost twist of an end. The acting was excellent and not overdone and dramatic to the point of being a mochery. I have recomended this movie to everyone who is sensitive,caring, intelligent and those that need to be enlightened about what the denial of the genocide means to someone like me. I have been angry all my life. I have bled and cried in my despair. I have pleaded with the ancient gods of Urartu for justice. When will there ever be a justice with eyes and a mouth that sees and speaks the truth? Will the Turks ever know the truth, or is Justice as blind as the Turks have been for over a century? Ararat, gave me hope. As a writer, (10 books including "The Armenians of Worcester") I include Armenians in many of my stories and articles. I think the antique world knows what an Armenian is but what about the nurse at the hospital who asked it Armenians came from Pakistan, or the couple in Atlanta, who asked me what tribe of Indians the Urartians were? You think sometimes it is just like banging your head on the wall and then a miracle happens and this miracle is called Ararat. Blessed are they that morn for they shall be comforted...and I was.Movie Review: Finally the truth, we shall have justice
Summary: 5 Stars
Where to begin...This is wonderful tribute to the Armenian people and the Genocide that was visited upon them by Muslim turks. Lets not forget these turks, these people who call us racists and call this movie racist. The turks are beasts who murdered every Armenian in Turkey and every Greek as well(visit turkey and you will find no more christians, what happaned to all these people? did they all leave, no they were murdured). This movie helpes Armenians understand a neccesary heritage and will help others understand this very central event of the 20th century. The Armenians genocide was the first of this century, but not he last. It served as a blueprint for other mass executions from Hitler to Stalin to Pol Pot. The Armenians were murdered when no one was looking, just like the Jews. Unlike the Jews the Armenians have not garned much attention, because everyone in the western press wants to call Islam a religion of 'peace'. Islam, as we see in this great film, is a religion of hate and intolerance and nothing more. This film will make you yearn for revenge against the enemy, and will make you understand the motive of the Armenians terrorists who used to kill Turkish diplomats(a deed for which heaven reserves a special place).
This movie is not to be missed, it is a great rendition of a classic struggle between the self, the soul and the nation. To understand ourselves and to carve our fate we must know our past, this movie will evoke this in waves.
Movie Review: do you know what still hurts?
Summary: 5 Stars
an armenian friend called me two weekends ago and invited me to see 'ararat'. he warned me that the movie's subject is genocide. although this isn't something i usually venture into the theaters for - i tend to use hollywood to escape reality - i went anyhow...this is the third egoyan movie i have seen in a theater - exotica was my first, the sweet hereafter was my second. each was a unique experience and i truly can say cannot be compared to ararat.
ararat is a MOVIE about a HISTORICAL event validated by scholars, historians, eyewitnesses from the united states, england, france, germany, russia, etc. and even turkey. there is no doubt that the armenian genocide took place. the exact circumstances, motivations, numbers murdered, etc. are questioned - true. but the fact remains that a planned genocide by the turks against the armenians took place and this movie chronicles some of the horride eyewitness stories. the one i can still see when i close my eyes is the rape scene...
now... i read the other reviews that were posted here before i went to type mine. i have to say that the reviews written against ararat were obviously politically motivated and seemingly anti-armenian. it is juvenile bickering at its best...
do you know what still hurts? the hatred.
see the movie. stop the animosity. begin the healing. enrich your knowledge of world history.
Movie Review: Moving and emphatic.
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed the movie and subject matter becauase I am a history buff. I would have enjoyed it more if some of the characters were further developed, and a little less time was spent on the other characters, such as the young man's love interest. Moving into the subject matter of the film, even more interesting is the fact that even today, Turks and Turkish sympathizers continue to deny the atrocities commited by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians. Such as the character played by Koteas in the movie. Even today the Turks continue to disparage and/or deny the atrocities commited by the Turkish government much to the horor of the Armenian families who were victims of the holocaust. Generally it is the position of most Turks and Turkish government proponents that either the Armenian genocide did not occur, or it is grossly exaggerated. Like the holocaust is exaggerated? Interesting argument, however, sadly for them, and more deeply hurtful to the Armenians, and other victims of genocide/holocaust such as the jews, denial of the occurence of history only firms up the convictions of the survivors or successors to dig deeper and push harder. To conclude, although clearly not Schindler's List or the Pianist in its nature and quality, I believe this movie, although a little rough around the edges, is a very interesting look at a very dark side of human history.
Movie Review: Passionately Complex
Summary: 5 Stars
The Armenian genocide deserves its "Sophie's Choice" but "Ararat" isn't that film. Instead Atom Egoyan makes us confront history as imperfect, frustrating and necessary. As with all Egoyan film, narration is never taken for granted and we follow several interconnected stories including that of a film-maker producing a straightforward film of Armenian genocide, another of a young man who is interrogated by Canadian immigration, a reflection on the life of Amil Gorky, the great Armenian artist as its retold by a historian who in turn is stalked by a step-daughter who holds the historian responsible for her own father's death.
While grief and loss are often on display in Egoyan's film, those feelings are typically mediated by his presentation of powerful ideas and oblique storytelling. In Ararat, the grief and loss aren't as mediated. Egoyan is part Armenian and the story he tells is personal and heartfelt. That feeling comes through on film and yet it doesn't slop over into easy sentiment or self righteousness. This is a film I would show freshman history majors to help them understand that interpretation, ideas and facts must not be allowed to overwhelm the emotional impact world events have individual lives.