Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
DIANA GASPARYAN
STAFF WRITER
Each Friday night, Fresno State’s Mass Communication and Journalism Department screens cultural films as part of their CineCulture film series and class, designed to promote cultural awareness through diverse movies. It is open and free of charge to students, faculty, and the public.
As part of the Spring 2016 film line-up, CineCulture partnered on Friday, April 1 with the Armenian Studies Program to co-sponsor the screening of Our Village, which explores the problem of disintegration of Armenian village life through a mix of comedy and drama.
CineCulture has had a long-standing collaboration with the Armenian Studies Program, bringing such popular films as Grandma’s Tattoos and Aram, Aram to campus. Dr. Mary Husain, who teaches the CineCulture class and Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program have been working together to bring the newest in Armenian themed films that also engage students to think about various issues.
Director Yelena Arshakyan was invited from Yerevan to be present at the screening and to be the discussant. Reflecting on the decisions that led her to produce Our Village, Arshakyan stated “I wanted to create a film that tells the story of what is happening in Armenian villages today.” Arshakyan explained that the population of Armenian villages is rapidly declining, due to emigration. Younger generations do not wish to stay in villages and undertake the physically demanding jobs and responsibilities of village life when they can easily move to the city and earn an education and to get a job.
Shot in Dsegh (birthplace to famed poet Hovhannes Toumanian), the film depicts life in the fictional village of Nushikavan. The grief of one couple in the village is portrayed as their son has moved out of the village to Russia, married a Russian woman, and returns for a visit, but without their grandchild. In another example, Mihran’s daughter Karine runs away from the village to start a life with her husband in Yerevan.
“Although the characters and place are fictional, the problems and the subject matter behind it are still real to all Armenians,” stated Arshakyan. A large audience of over 275 was present for the screening and they had an opportunity to ask questions to the director.
Despite aspects of sorrow in the film, the strong Armenian sense of comedy still shone. “I would hope that the audience feels the heartache of the villagers, yet enjoys the lyrical comedic aspects of it,” said Arshakyan.
First released in June of 2014, Our Village was screened at the 18th Annual Arpa Film Festival in Los Angeles and earned the “Best Feature Film,” at the Pomegranate Film Festival in Toronto.