Filmmaker Michael Goorjian got down to create a special form of movie about Armenian nationality when creating “Amerikatsi,” the nation’s submission within the worldwide characteristic class for this 12 months’s Academy Awards. Together with directing, Goorjian additionally stars as Charlie, an American who repatriates to Armenia after World Warfare II — however results in a Soviet jail for merely carrying a tie. The circumstances are absurd and bleak, however Goorjian was intent on discovering a lightweight, affirming tone for the story.
“There had been plenty of Armenian movies often centered on the genocide. I simply wished to make one thing that may be hopeful. But additionally I wished to make a movie that Armenians may very well be pleased with, however wouldn’t be laborious to share — that was pleasurable to look at,” Goorjian shared in a dialog with fellow director Atom Egoyan. “As we speak there’s a lot loopy stuff occurring. And we overlook in regards to the facet of humanity that’s primarily good. That’s not a theme that’s mirrored in movies all that a lot.”
Armenian Canadian filmmaker Egoyan has devoted his personal work to telling intricate tales of communities impacted by trauma, with acclaimed options equivalent to “Exotica” and “The Candy Hereafter.” He has emerged as considered one of “Amerikatsi’s” most vocal champions because the movie’s debut on the Woodstock Movie Competition final 12 months.
“One of many targets of the movie was to assist assist Armenia in a manner that I felt as an artist was the easiest way I may do, which was as an alternative of creating a movie about Armenia in a foreign country… to offer them a challenge and work with them and provides them a possibility for all these totally different artists to work on one thing meant so much,” Goorjian says, pertaining to how the Armenian Philharmonic scored the movie.
Caught behind bars, Charlie discovers that he can view right into a neighboring condo from his cell window. As he observes the continued lifetime of one other Armenian artist, he involves reaffirm his personal devotion and love for his native nation. Charlie’s personal fortitude doesn’t simply parallel Goorjian’s filmmaking ambition to search out hope and humor inside a jail movie — it additionally resembles the resilience of the challenge’s crew, a lot of which joined the army as Russia’s relationship with Armenia deteriorated following the invasion of Ukraine.
“Simply by having a movie that’s accessible – that’s not only for Armenians, but in addition for non-Armenians – it helps Armenians to be seen,” Goorjian beforehand instructed Selection. “For Armenia to get a nomination, it will actually change the nation.”
Watch the complete dialog between Egoyan and Goorjian by clicking right here.
