10 Classics of Armenian Cinema
The Soviet era in Armenian history represented a veritable golden age in the country's cinema. Below are 10 of the best feature films from this period, in chronological order.
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- DirectorAmo Bek-NazaryanStarsHovhannes AbelyanHasmik AgopyanOlga MaisuryanYoung lovers Seyran and Susan meet a tragic fate because of patriarchal prejudices of their parents. Although arranged for marriage in early childhood, and despite youngsters' love, Barkhudar marries his daughter Susan to another man, as a matter of honour.The first Armenian film, produced during the early "revolutionary phase" of Soviet cinema. Based on Aleksandr Shirvanzade's 1885 novel, it is a critique of Caucasian patriarchal culture. The film was directed by Amo Bek-Nazaryan, the founder of Armenian cinema and a former actor in the cinema of Tsarist Russia.
- DirectorAmo Bek-NazaryanStarsMaria TenaziHrachia NersisyanAvet AvetisyanImmediately prior to the Russian Revolution, a young shepherd Seydo and his girlfriend Zare struggle for their right to a happy love in a Yazidi Kurdish village in Russian Armenia.The first Kurdish / Yazidi film, also directed by Bek-Nazaryan. During the Soviet era, Armenia emerged as a major center for Kurdish culture. The film stars Maria Tenazi-Tadevosyan, a renowned actress in Armenian and Georgian films from the 1920s. Bek-Nazaryan's use of actual Yazidi villagers was inspired by Sergei Eisenstein.
- DirectorsLevon IsahakyanHenrik MalyanStarsLeonid YengibarovI. ShestuaI. DanzasFamous Soviet Armenian clown Leonid Yengibarov stars in this film about the artistic quest of a talented circus actor.This classic comedy starring celebrated Armenian clown Leonid Yengibarov (Yengibaryan) remains one of the most beloved classics of Armenian cinema from the Khrushchev years (1954-1964). In Armenia, it is best known for the song 'Երգ ճանապարհի' ('Song of the Road').
- DirectorFrunze DovlatyanStarsArmen DzhigarkhanyanRolan BykovNatalya FateevaArtyom Manvelyan is a famous physicist and founder of a cosmology laboratory in Armenia. With loyalty and gentleness he keeps the memories of past war, his friends and lost love.Directed by Frunze Dovlatyan and starring Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, this film focuses on the experience of World War II for Armenians in the USSR. The film entered the 1966 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated to Palme d'Or.
- DirectorSergei ParajanovStarsSofiko ChiaureliMelkon AlekyanVilen GalstyanThe life of the Armenian poet Sayat-Nova, from childhood to death: his spiritual journey, artistic endeavors, and inner conflicts within the cultural and historical context of Armenia. Hailed as revolutionary by Mikhail Vartanov.Sergei Parajanov's classic groundbreaking film starring his muse, Georgian actress Sofiko Chiaureli. This highly stylized depiction of the life of 18th century Armenian bard Sayat-Nova faced editing and censorship from Soviet authorities, who objected to the religious content. The film has since become a classic of Armenian and international cinema.
- DirectorHenrik MalyanStarsSos SargsyanFrunzik MkrtchyanKhoren AbrahamyanCalm of the mountain village is disturbed by the investigation on stray sheep.Directed by Henrik Malyan and written by Hrant Matevosyan, this film follows a police inspector who pursues a case regarding missing sheep in a mountainous Armenian village. One of the most beloved Armenian films, it stars Mher "Frunzik" Mkrtchyan and features many famous phrases in the Armenian language.
- DirectorEdmond KeosayanStarsArmen DzhigarkhanyanFrunzik MkrtchyanAzat SherentsVazgen, Sako, Suren and Aram are taxi drivers and close friends. When Aram fell in hopeless love with Karine, other three decide to help their friend.This comedy about a lovesick taxi driver and his loyal friends is a cult classic in Armenia. A famous statue to it stands in the Armenian capital Yerevan.
- DirectorNerses HovhannisyanStarsArmen DzhigarkhanyanMurad KostanyanVerjaluys MirijanyanPopular musical comedy satirizing Russian-Armenian relations, featuring Arno Babadzhanyan's hit songs.Featuring the hit songs of celebrated Armenian composer Arno Babajanyan, this musical satirizes Russian-Armenian relations through the love story of an Armenian man and a Russian woman. It remains a classic of Brezhnev-era Soviet cinema.
- DirectorFrunze DovlatyanStarsKhoren AbrahamyanArmen AyvazyanA. AristakesyanAfter the Sovietization of Armenia, experienced statesman Aleksandr Myasnikyan arrives in Yerevan to rebuild the country and lead the construction of a new Soviet Armenian Republic.Frunze Dovlatyan's sweeping epic features Khoren Abrahamyan as Aleksandr Myasnikyan, the Soviet Armenian statesman who worked to rebuild Armenia after years of genocide, war, and devastation. The film features major Armenian cultural figures Yeghishe Charents (Azat Gasparyan), Shushanik Kurghinyan (Nona Petrosyan), and Martiros Saryan (Hrant Sargsyan). An underrated masterpiece.
- DirectorHenrik MalyanStarsFrunzik MkrtchyanSofiko ChiaureliAshot AdamyanAbout the love of shy and honest Torik with Anjel - girl with the oldest occupation in the world. Could Torik survive the disgrace from the town?Based on the story by Armenian writer Vahan Totovents, this classic Armenian film directed by Henrik Malyan focuses on the romance between a poor young man (Ashot Adamyan) and a prostitute (Galina Belyaeva). A commentary on the hypocrisy of the Armenian bourgeoisie, it also stars Mher Mkrtchyan and Sofiko Chiaureli.
