Amerikatsi

I just finished watching Amerikatsi & felt compelled to immediately write a review. This is the best film I've seen all year. Michael Goorjian's performance was Oscar-worthy. Truly spectacular! The storyline was so touching - we all got emotional. Armenians have collectively been in mourning since the 2020 Karabagh war but this film gives us a healthy distraction from the trauma & reminds us that even though we've gone through endless hardships, we always persevere & never lose hope. This is a movie for everyone, not just Armenians. It's a movie that all your family & friends can enjoy, regardless of skin color or religious background. Amerikatsi will leave a mark on your heart.

"Americatsi" is a triumph of human spirit over the ugliness and brutality of the dark side.

In a world that the "regime" under the pretense of "good for all" crushes every attempt for happiness by Charlie (our naive hero), and tries to to punish his spirit in every possible way, he keeps on fighting even when he has nothing to fight with other than his smile.

Of course the regime can not enforce its evil without help from its agents: ... some agents are complete evil (like the buractrat woman in the pison) ... some are partly evil (like the warden who does a good balancing act, who tries to pepper his wrongs with some good deeds) ... some know they are pawns in the game and try their best to avoid helping evil (like the prison guard who brings food for Charlie) ... some are innocent souls stuck in that hell (like Tigran the guard at the tower); he is a kind soul that suffers the most...much more than Charlie. Tigran's suffering gets exasperated when he gets a macabre reward.

At the end, Stalin the invisible antagonist who is personification of evil, is dead; though the game goes on, perhaps forever.

Our naieve hero, Charlie, knows that but he does not care; he knows that nothing can steal his spirit away and he will always have that magical weapon with him.

"Americatsi" is a simple story about a simple man... but it tells a graet story about the spirit of mankind...

Amerikatsi is about a man named Charlie who was born in Armenia only to flee the country during the Genocide. After World War II, the leader of USSR Joseph Stalin, offered money to all Armenians living in the diaspora who want to return to Armenia to have a new better life. Charlie who is played by Michael Goorjian returns to the motherland only to be wrongfully imprisoned by the Soviet enforced Armenian prison. During his time he learned more about his culture while he watched a couple from his prison window. He lived vigorously thru the couple, eating, drinking, and cleaning while they do their chores. Much like Roberto Begnini in Life is Beautiful the storyline, direction, and cinematic background were beautifully filmed in Armenia. This movie definitely deserves an Oscar for best Foreign Film let alone Best Picture. Amerikatsi means American Armenian and I hope this film receives the same respect as Begnini's movie. I know most of you won't bother but trust me when I tell you it's a great movie. Michael created, produced, directed and acted while Serj Tankian helped produce it. Definitely add this to your list.

Poignant film, especially now with the usual geopolitical issues going on in Armenia. A quiet, charming movie. It's been a while since I've seen something like this. No super heros in sight! There's an underlying sense of longing and the observations from his window are very telling. Interesting way of storytelling and filmmaking. I think a lot of Armenians in the diaspora can relate but the film speaks to people who have curiosity of places they've never been, which seems completely counterintuitive but I think a lot of viewers can identify with the themes in this movie. While it's not available at the average neighborhood cineplex, it's worth seeking out.

A must see for those who like art and cherish movies about power of human relationship and connections.p Slow start but quickly I wanted to see more ! A beautiful and touching story showing the strength of human connection through art, even when two human beings are placed in opposing roles , (prisoner and prison guard) they still connect above the atrocities. Amazing cast with Michael Gourjian, Hovik Keuchkerian, Nelli Uvarova and Narine Grigoryan. Dramatic, comic and sometime historic. During the same movie you will laugh , feel sad and happy. Love independent movie theaters because they give a chance to the real artists ! Great movie to watch to scape the quotidien routine.