Le voyage en Arménie

For weeks I wanted to see "Le voyage en Arménie" from Robert Guédiguian and finally I saw it… I've just realized I know Robert Guédiguian and saw 9 years ago another movie from him called "Marius et Jeannette", movie that indeed marked my heart.

"Le voyage en Arménie", is about Anna a French doctor sure of herself whose father is having hearts problem and decides to go back to Armenia his country of origin instead of having a surgical intervention. Anna who never really got along with her father and was never brought up within the Armenian culture decides to go to Armenia to look for him.

Now I can hear you saying: this is an Armenian movie for Armenian people… Well, let me respond that I am not Armenian and that it is more a true film made for real people.

In her "initiatic" journey Anna will encounter numerous characters that will help her understand a country, a culture, a dad. All over sudden nothing is certain anymore and Anna doubts herself, her choices, what she believes in...But in this doubt the certitude of what is important might very well emerge and "le voyage en Arménie" becomes a "voyage" not only into Anna but also into everyone of us…

Robert Guédiguian reinvents the meaning of the word beautiful by taking away the notion of plastic and replacing it by the notion of sincerity. In this task he is helped by terrific actresses and actors who seem to tell their own stories… "Le voyage an Arménie" is a beautiful movie, not only because everything from writing to editing perfectly serve the story, but also because all those elements trigger true emotions and make us realize what Cinema is all about

Having always enjoyed Robert Guédiguian's films, the chance to see his latest movie in the lovely Boite à Images cinema in Brignoles was eagerly taken. This is another fabulous piece from this director, with several of his by now familiar faces in evidence (Gérard Meylan, Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin). Ariane Ascaride in particular is superb again (I cannot remember a poor performance from her) and, according to the credits, it was she who was largely responsible for this movie's story and for the movie happening. Guédiguian starts off on his (French) home territory, but soon afterwards the story moves to a very different Armenian background. Beautifully played by all the actors, and gentle in style, this is a movie that says so much about people and about their relationships, in a context with which many viewers (cetainly I know very little about Armenia) will be unfamiliar. There are elements of comedy, drama, and even travelogue, but all delivered in Guégiguian's unique and inimitable manner. Whether you are familiar already with his work or not, this film will not disappoint, and may well leave you wanting more of the director and his regular players. Go see!

I didn't know much about Armenia and was very interested to learn more. And the movie works on that front. It could almost be used as promotional material by the country's tourist bureau. But beside the fact that we get to know more about this small country, there's not really any point to see this film. Yes, it talks about the relationship between father and daughter and also about the feelings of those who live in exile, but everything stays on the surface. And, you know, there's just some little things that bug me: the daughter that picks up the language a little bit too fast or the father who seems to be known by everybody even though he hasn't set foot in the country for decades. Just small details that plays in the balance when it's time to rate a movie.

Seen in Toronto, at the Royal, on April 1st, 2007. Shown during Cinéfranco.

72/100 (**)

Well-done, with fine sense of humor typical for Robert Guediguian and with great soundtrack music. I really enjoyed it. It's one of those movies that make you think over certain relationships and concepts without any dramatic turns or any pressure. It's pretty obvious that the movie is not just about a trip to some small country (as one of the reviewers suggested above) but about re- defining one's identity (and here I mean not just ethnic identity) and discovering a whole new world which at first may seem terrifying and crazy, but eventually leads to re-shaping old attitudes and stereotypes and finding lost roots and spirituality. In some ways, it's autobiographical, as Robert Guediguian is French-Armenian as the main personage, Anna, and I guess, it is his own personal story of discovering his roots and rethinking his relationship with his Armenian father. Overall, it's professionally done as any other movie by Robert Guediguian and is based on first-hand experience, thus is sincere and colorful.