NEWS
THE BATTALION
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The Battalion
Page 3 • Tuesday, April 1, 2003
‘Ara rat’
Granddaughter of Armenian holocaust survivors speaks about the history film
By Shena Bausch
THE BATTALION
“History is written by the victors, while
poems, songs and art are written by the van
quished.” Susan Kouyomjian recalled this histori
cal quote as she spoke about the history of the
first genocide of the 20th century.
"This quote is especially true of the Armenian
genocide, which to this day people are unaware
of," she said.
Kouyomjian, the widow and collaborator of
the late Charles Gordone, a Pulitzer Prize-win-
|ning dramatist and Texas A&M professor, has
isited College Station’s Cinemark Hollywood
wice since last Friday to see the movie “Ararat.”
“Ararat” is a film within a film that follows
he production of a documentary about the
olocaust of 1.5 million Armenians in the
ttoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.
Kouyomjian said it is very fortunate that
■—‘Ararat” has come to College Station because it
Bias only been shown in big cities since its release
|n November 2002.
“This is a very pivotal moment for Armenians,
ecause it has taken 85 years to get even this
nuch of the Armenian history told,” she said.
Kouyomjian said the movie had a particular
rom an Ameria Interest to her because of her grandparent’s
killed by our ov involvement in the genocide,
aid in die Kurdr “Three of my grandparents endured the death
it Kalak in northern ^Bnarches for nearly eight years, and it’s remark
able that they survived,” she said.
Kouyomjian said this movie is important and
Ihe encourages history students in particular to
lee “Ararat” because the film raises the issue of
lie Armenian history that has been left out of the
id month in jail history books.
I Kouyomjian said many people don't realize
rnner Texas A&M stude that Armenia, which was founded in 301 A.D., is
guilty of videotaping sei the most ancient Christian nation in the world,
itions with a female $t “Making this film was very important to many
without her knowled; of us who have been haunted for years by the
len showing the tape t memories of the Armenian genocide,” she said,
iternity brothers was set iThe film itself, and its ending, has helped
1 in early March to
of probation and or:
i in jail, according to fit /f
College Station Eagle. «
nan Bice, 21, pleade
to a fourth-degree felon
punishable by up to tw
n jail and a $10,000 fim
ing to The Eagle.
>art of his punishmen
>ok out an advertisemen
March 17 edition of Tl
on apologizing to tt
i and her family.
NEWS IN BRIEF
ner student to ,i
Armenians begin to heal.”
Although Kouyomjian has already seen the
movie, she said she plans on seeing it again.
“When you watch ‘Ararat,’ the movie holds
together in a very interesting way,” she said.
“Atom Egoyan speaks to you on many different
levels, and it leaves you thinking about it for
days after.”
Atom Egoyan, the writer and director of
“Ararat,” has been commended and condemned
for making this movie. “Ararat” stirred up con
troversy when filming began because Turkey
still disputes whether the Ottoman Empire was
responsible for the deaths of two-thirds of the
Armenian population, which is the focus of the
movie.
The opening of the film begins with the
Armenian artist and survivor of the 1915 mas
sacre at Van, Arshile Gorky, painting his mother’s
hands.
Historically, Gorky’s mother starved to death
in his arms during the genocide. He came to the
United States at about the age of 15, and he spent
15 years painting a picture of his mother repeat
edly and committed suicide when he was 44.
Kouyomjian said the movie reminds the world
why artists are essential to remembering history.
“Through the eyes of the painter, Arshile
Gorky, the plight of the Armenian people is pre
served and made sacred through the portrait of
himself and his mother,” she said.
Several other characters swirl around Gorky
and his painting, “The Artist and His Mother.”
Ani (played by Egoyan's wife and actress
Arsinee Khanjian) is an art historian specializ
ing in Gorky’s work, and has been made an
adviser to the historical reenactment filmed
within the film.
Edward Saroyan (Charles Aznavour) is a well-
known Armenian director creating the reenact
ment based on the real-life, eyewitness account
of Dr. Clarence Ussher, who wrote “An American
Physician in Turkey.”
Ani’s son, Raffi (David Alpay), is a driver on
the set of the film who journeys to find his roots,
which may jeopardize his future. A customs
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IN!
%
OPEN TALENT CALL
Maximillian Alexander
Newest Cast Member of
“All My Children",
Playing the role of “Carlos”
Michael Vitulli
Signed with
Superior Talent Agency, LA
Valarie Renter
Recording Demo with
Michael Jay,
Jambo Productions, LA
HERE ARE JUST A FEW
STUDENTS OF NIKKI
PEDERSON TALENT WHO
HAVE BEEN SIGNED WITH
TOP AGENTS AND
MANAGERS
The Nikki Pederson Model & Talent
Academy is pleased to announce it will
be hosting a scouting event in Bryan on
Saturday, April 5 at 4:00 pm, and
Sunday, April 6 at 2:00 pm for the
International Modeling &
Talent Association Convention,
“Hooray For Hollywood” 2004.
Actors, Actresses, Singers, Dancers and
Models are encouraged to audition. The
IMTA is a distinguished and legitimate
avenue to meet agents and begin learn
ing about a career outside the Brazos
Valley Market. If you are selected to
attend the LA Convention and
Competitions you will have the opportu
nity to audition for and interview with
scores of modeling and talent agents,
you might never have the chance to
meet otherwise. It is truly a once in a
lifetime event for the aspiring model and
talented individuals. Nikki Pederson
Talent had an Outstanding 95% Agency
callback rate at the last International
Model & Talent Convention &
Competitions.
Stars like Katie Holmes, Elijah Wood,
Jessica Biel 8r Cover Girl Model, Jessica
White, along with many others were
discovered at an IMTA Convention.
822-5104
Auditions held at
1004 S. Coulter, BRYAN
www.nikkipedersontaIent.com
• Open to ages 8 years and older
• No experience is necessary
• A personal photo/snapshot
is required!
Crystal Wiseman
Signed with
Superior Talent Agency, LA
Class of 2002
Tiffany Thornton
Signed with
Stein Entertainment, LA
Elliot Schrock
Signed with
Handprint Entertainment, LA
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROT1 ENTOMATOES.COM»
David Alpay, right, plays the role of Raffi and Arsinee Khanjian plays Ani in the movie “Ararat”, a story about
the Armenian genocide that took place from 1915-1923. The film will play at Cinemark Theater until Thursday.
agent at the Toronto airport detains Raffi, and
interrogates him about the film canisters that he
has brought back with him from Turkey.
Raffi spends the majority of the movie telling
the customs agent about the Armenian massacre
and Turkey’s denial that the event even hap
pened.
Raffi’s stepsister and girlfriend, Celia (Marie-
Josee Croze), is haunted by her father’s suicide,
and wants nothing but retribution. Celia inter
venes in Ani’s presentations on the research she
has done on Gorky. Ani speaks about Gorky, but
Celia only hears what’s happened in her own life.
Raffi is torn between his mother and his lover.
The other part of the film looks at the life of
the customs agent, David (Christopher Plummer),
who is on the verge of retirement. David fears
that he will not be allowed to see his grandson
anymore, because his son, Philip (Brent Carver),
thinks he is being intolerant of his gay lover.
David is trying to accommodate his son's situa
tion, but Philip can’t see that because he has his
own traumas. Philip’s lover is Ali (Elias Koteas),
who plays a villain in the film within the film, in
which he has to grapple with his conscience for
playing such a role.
At the release, “Ararat” received mixed reac
tions ranging from “this movie was a master
piece” to “this movie did not contribute anything
to Armenian history.” Some viewers thought the
movie should have concentrated more on the
genocide itself without bringing the other ele
ments to the story, such as Raffi having a love
affair with his stepsister.
Leticia Keremian, a graduate student of archi-
See Ararat on page 4
J