Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Sara Beberian
Staff Writer
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – Matthew 7:12.
This well-known verse is the opening to the film “The Last Inhabitant,” which tells the story of an Armenian man Abgar, his daughter Yurga, and their Azerbaijani neighbor Ibrahim in Artsakh. Members of the local Fresno community had the opportunity to watch the film and meet via Zoom to discuss the film with director Jivan Avetisyan and Executive Producer Adrineh Mirzayan on Friday, April 16.
“The Last Inhabitant” was the feature film in the weekly CineCulture series and class. Dr. Mary Husain teaches the course and the film screening was co-sponsored with the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State.
Avetisyan, joining from Yerevan, Armenia and Mirzayan joining from Los Angeles, were present to answer questions about the film and to delve deeper into the details of the film and the inspiration behind it. Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian provided the English translation for Avetisyan’s remarks.
Students in the CineCulture course, as well as community members, had the opportunity to watch the film the week before the April 16 discussion.
Avetisyan’s message to the students of the class was that they “should not be silent. They should speak out.” The world was silent in the face of the tragedy of the 2020 Artsakh war. The worst types of violence inflicted on the Armenians was ignored by the world. Women bore a special burden in the war as they had to tend to children as well as suffer the loss of husbands.
Director Jivan Avetisyan was born in Gyumri, but grew up in Stepanakert, Artsakh. He attended the Yerevan Institute of Cinematography and Theatre and has produced over twenty documentaries to tell his stories. “The Last Inhabitant,” which is set during the Artsakh war, is especially dear to him, because Artsakh is extremely close to his heart. When speaking about Artsakh, his passion and love were visible. Avetisyan filmed the story in the same village he grew up in, Khachmach.
The film is based on a true story and parallels his life in many ways. Avetisyan was able to portray a glimpse of the overwhelming real-life horrors and traumas that Armenians face in the Artsakh region.
“This film is my life story. I live what you have viewed.” And for those who watched the film, this is a sad realization. However, it is the reality for our fellow Armenians still today. Being Christian and Armenian is in no way easy. Every day is a fight for our lives and for what we hold dear.
Avetisyan chose the verse from Matthew to portray the brutality and torture Azerbaijanis inflicted on Armenians, and to remind the viewers that others do not treat Armenians the way they should be treated. But this verse also reminds us to look within ourselves. Are we treating our extended Armenian family the way they should be treated?
It can be easy to forget about our Armenian brothers and sisters, our Armenian family, living in Artsakh and Armenia while living in Diaspora.
As Armenians, we should continue to treat our fellow Armenians, who are in need, how we would want to be treated.
Avetisyan’s film, “The Last Inhabitant,” it is now streaming on Amazon Prime, along with his first film, “Tevanik.” Leaving positive reviews on Amazon prime as well as on IMDB is also greatly appreciated.