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(out of 5)
A standout accomplishment by Atom Egoyan, here looking to his Armenian roots for a powerful story about history, healing and hope. A book about a survivor of the Armenian genocide of 1915 has caught the eye of a filmmaker (Charles Aznavour) and screenwriter (Eric Bogosian) working on a film about the controversial tragedy. They hire the book’s writer (Arsinée Khanjian, who is marvelous) to act as consultant on the film and contribute to the realism of their project. Khanjian’s son, David Alpay, is dealing with his personal family’s involvement with the political aftermath between Turkey and its denial of the Armenian holocaust, unfolding his personal story to a customs officer (Christopher Plummer) while waiting to be admitted back into Canada. The multiple subplots that magically connect, a staple of Egoyan’s films, are sometimes too extraneous to the plot, but the whole thing plays so smoothly and with such beautiful rhythm and palpable emotion that there’s no need for serious criticism of its excesses. Egoyan’s choice to make a film with various forms of art instead of just a straightforward historical epic pays off with information and dramatic layers.
Alliance Atlantis Communications, Serendipity Point Films, Ego Film Arts, ARP Sélection, Telefilm Canada, The Movie Network, Super Ecran, The Harold Greenberg Fund
Directed by Atom Egoyan
Screenplay by Atom Egoyan
Cinematography by Paul Sarossy
Produced by Atom Egoyan, Robert Lantos
Music by Mychael Danna
Production Design by Phillip Barker
Costume Design by Beth Pasternak
Film Editing by Susan Shipton
Film Festivals: TIFF 2002
Cast Tags: Andrea Loren, Araxie Keshishian, Arshile Egoyan, Arsinée Khanjian, Arthur Hagopian, Brent Carver, Bruce Greenwood, Carlo Essagian, Charles Aznavour, Chris Gillett, Christie MacFadyen,Christopher Plummer, David Alpay, Dawn Roach, Elias Koteas, Eric Bogosian, Erica Ehm, Garen Boyajian, George Kharlakian, Gina Wilkinson, Haig Sarkissian, Jean Yoon, Kevork Arslanian, Linda Gizirian, Lorna Noura Kevorkian,Lousnak Abdalian, Manal Elmasri, Mandyf Nissani, Manuel Ishkhanian, Marie-Josée Croze, Max Morrow, Nicole Anoush Strang, Raoul Bhaneja, Roberta Angelica, Rose Sarkisyan, Samir Alnadi, Serge Keshishian, Setta Keshishian, Shahan Bulat-Matossian, Shant Kabrielian, Shant Srabian, Simon Abkarian, Susan Raymond, Varazh Stephen, Vic Keshishian
National Board Of Review Award
Freedom of Expression Award
Canadian Screen Awards (Genie Awards)
Best Motion Picture
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Arsinee Khanjian)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Elias Koteas)
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Best Achievement in Music – Original Score
Nominations
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (David Alpay)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Christopher Plummer)
Best Screenplay, Original
Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design
