AraratAraratAtom EgoyanAtom Egoyan

OutlineOutline

Atom Egoyan’s ‘Home-Coming’Atom Egoyan’s ‘Home-Coming’ Ararat: General Introduction and QuestionsArarat: General Introduction and Questions Personal Histories: Personal Histories:

1.1. Ani and Celia; Ani and Celia; 2.2. Raffi, Ani and Celia; Raffi, Ani and Celia; 3.3. Raffi in his Quest for Knowledge Raffi in his Quest for Knowledge 4.4. David and Ali David and Ali

Public History Public History Ways of Presentation Ways of Presentation

Atom Egoyan & Atom Egoyan & AraratArarat ““Home”-coming in two senses: Home”-coming in two senses: 1.1. Making a “Canadian” film after the twMaking a “Canadian” film after the tw

o international projects: o international projects: Felicia’s JournFelicia’s Journeyey (shot in Britain and Ireland, 1999); (shot in Britain and Ireland, 1999); KraKrapp’s Last Tapepp’s Last Tape (Beckett on Film series) (Beckett on Film series)

2.2. More and more ‘personal’ and emotiMore and more ‘personal’ and emotional, less cerebral. onal, less cerebral.

((The SweethereafterThe Sweethereafter 1997) 1997)

Atom Egoyan: Atom Egoyan: Films with Armenian ConnectionsFilms with Armenian Connections Next of KinNext of Kin: A bored young Canadian, while : A bored young Canadian, while

receiving experimental "video therapy", receiving experimental "video therapy", discovers tapes of an Armenian family who are discovers tapes of an Armenian family who are missing a son. The young man assumes the missing a son. The young man assumes the identity of the long-lost boy, and is readily identity of the long-lost boy, and is readily adopted by this new "family". adopted by this new "family".

CalendarCalendar: An Armenian-Canadian photographer : An Armenian-Canadian photographer gets estranged from his wife, who is closer to gets estranged from his wife, who is closer to Armenian culture, Armenian culture, during their trip to Armeniaduring their trip to Armenia, , and then, back in Toronto, he needs to find a and then, back in Toronto, he needs to find a way to face this sad memory. way to face this sad memory.

Atom Egoyan: Atom Egoyan: Films with Armenian ConnectionsFilms with Armenian Connections The AdjusterThe Adjuster: : There are two sisters from There are two sisters from

Armenia who have to burn pictures of the Armenia who have to burn pictures of the past and forget about them. past and forget about them.

The other films: The other films: – displacement in a city, dysfunction of family, displacement in a city, dysfunction of family,

rituals of remembering and survival, etc. rituals of remembering and survival, etc. – including including Exotica. Exotica.

Personal connections: Personal connections: Actors/ActressesActors/Actresses

Charles Aznavour –an Armenian French Charles Aznavour –an Armenian French singer/star; singer/star;

Eric Bogosian – American writer/actor of Eric Bogosian – American writer/actor of Armenian origin: “Like Rouben, I a ArmArmenian origin: “Like Rouben, I a Armenian and I wanted to embrace that by benian and I wanted to embrace that by being part of this project.”eing part of this project.”

The others: Bruce Greenwood (actor/ClaThe others: Bruce Greenwood (actor/Clarence Ussher), rence Ussher), ArsinéeArsinée KhanjianKhanjian (Ani) , El (Ani) , Elias Koteas (Ali/Jevdet Bey )ias Koteas (Ali/Jevdet Bey )

© 2002 - Miramax Films

Ararat: General Introd. Ararat: General Introd. Plotlines: Plotlines: 1. planned genocide in Van: 1. planned genocide in Van: characters: Missionary Ussher, the boy Gorky, thcharacters: Missionary Ussher, the boy Gorky, th

e photographer and his son in the center; e.g.e photographer and his son in the center; e.g. clipclip

2. Raffi – Celia – Ani triangle (2 fathers); e.g. clip 2. Raffi – Celia – Ani triangle (2 fathers); e.g. clip 11. .

3. David – Philip – Ali triangle; e.g. 3. David – Philip – Ali triangle; e.g. clipclip 4. Ani – Gorky – Sorayan (the actor and script wri4. Ani – Gorky – Sorayan (the actor and script wri

ter) – Egoyan ter) – Egoyan

Starting QuestionsStarting Questions

Egoyan: “Egoyan: “Ararat is as much about Canada noArarat is as much about Canada now as it is about the Armenian genocidew as it is about the Armenian genocide.” Do .” Do you agree? Why?you agree? Why?

There are There are two different kinds of ‘history’two different kinds of ‘history’ in in this film: personal history and national historthis film: personal history and national history. How do they influence or overlap with eacy. How do they influence or overlap with each other in each character? h other in each character?

Ani and Raffi, Ani and Celia, David and Philip, Ani and Raffi, Ani and Celia, David and Philip, Ali and Raffi, Saroyan, Archile Gorky. Ali and Raffi, Saroyan, Archile Gorky.

How is the film within the film different in stylHow is the film within the film different in style from the film, Ararat?e from the film, Ararat?

Personal Histories (1): Ani and CelPersonal Histories (1): Ani and Celiaia

Battle between Ani and Celia – Battle between Ani and Celia – – Celia wants to believe that her father does Celia wants to believe that her father does

not commit suicide; not commit suicide; – Ani uses the story of Gorky and his mother tAni uses the story of Gorky and his mother t

o assert the right of a mother; she does not fo assert the right of a mother; she does not feel responsible for helping Celia deal with heel responsible for helping Celia deal with her past; er past;

– Bottled up, Celia becomes disruptive and evBottled up, Celia becomes disruptive and even destructive. en destructive.

Personal Histories (1): Ani, Raffi, aPersonal Histories (1): Ani, Raffi, and Celiand Celia

Both children need to understand Both children need to understand their fathers’ suicide, its purposes their fathers’ suicide, its purposes and meanings. Clip: and meanings. Clip: 22

Personal Histories (2): Raffi confuPersonal Histories (2): Raffi confusedsed

Different views of hisDifferent views of history: Ali’s and Soratory: Ali’s and Sorayan’s yan’s

Personal Histories (2): Raffi confuPersonal Histories (2): Raffi confusedsed

Personal Histories (2): Raffi confuPersonal Histories (2): Raffi confused sed Assertion Assertion

Personal Histories (2): Raffi’s QuPersonal Histories (2): Raffi’s Questest

What does Raffi get in Turkey and near AWhat does Raffi get in Turkey and near Ararat? rarat?

Raffi goes in searching and almost destrRaffi goes in searching and almost destroys himself by being implicated in drug-oys himself by being implicated in drug-dealing. Clip: the final scenes dealing. Clip: the final scenes 11,,

Resolution: Belief and the mother’s savResolution: Belief and the mother’s saving/nourishing hands: ing/nourishing hands: 22. . Gorky Gorky

More later . . . More later . . .

Personal Histories (3): Gorky Personal Histories (3): Gorky

Cannot get over the past (witnessing Cannot get over the past (witnessing the brutal killing of his friend, and the brutal killing of his friend, and Armenian women) clip: the Armenian women) clip: the “witness” account “witness” account

Personal Histories (4): David, Personal Histories (4): David, Philip, Ali Philip, Ali

David tries to accept Philip and Ali, but hDavid tries to accept Philip and Ali, but he is deeply Christian. e is deeply Christian.

Philip rejects David out of his sense of inPhilip rejects David out of his sense of insecurity. security.

David tries to open up more by letting RDavid tries to open up more by letting Raffi go (not performing his duty in catchiaffi go (not performing his duty in catching him), having Philip in mind. ng him), having Philip in mind.

Personal Histories to Public Personal Histories to Public HistoryHistory

Sorayan’s film: Sorayan’s film: 1. What do you think about the showing of all t1. What do you think about the showing of all t

he killings and rape and heroism? he killings and rape and heroism? – E.g. the women burned; the last scene with a womaE.g. the women burned; the last scene with a woma

n raped; the photographer’s suicidal heroism; n raped; the photographer’s suicidal heroism; 2. Some clips to think over: 2. Some clips to think over:

– Ani’s intrusion into the set; Ani’s intrusion into the set; – The intersection of Raffi’s reading, interpretation The intersection of Raffi’s reading, interpretation

and the eyewitness account; and the eyewitness account; – Different Views Different Views

Atom Egoyan: Atom Egoyan: “Ararat” the Film“Ararat” the Film

I do not want to make those images I do not want to make those images ironic. I do, however, want to ironic. I do, however, want to underline the limitations of that kind underline the limitations of that kind of representation.”of representation.”

What are the limitations of repeating What are the limitations of repeating histories of sadness? histories of sadness?

Atom Egoyan: Atom Egoyan: AraratArarat

a "meditation on a "meditation on the spiritual role of artthe spiritual role of art in t in the process of struggling for meaning and rehe process of struggling for meaning and redemption in the aftermath of genocide.“(demption in the aftermath of genocide.“(http://www.cdca.asso.fr/cdca/cdca-egoyanhttp://www.cdca.asso.fr/cdca/cdca-egoyan_article_theguardian.htm_article_theguardian.htm ). ).

““I wanted to more to examine the role and I wanted to more to examine the role and consequences of art making: how people consequences of art making: how people mmake artifacts of their experienceake artifacts of their experience, and what t, and what those artifacts mean to them.” (McSorley)hose artifacts mean to them.” (McSorley)

Ararat: Opening and Ararat: Opening and ConclusionConclusion

Opening – different forms of art fade Opening – different forms of art fade into Toronto Airport into Toronto Airport

Remembering through human Remembering through human artifacts, which including forms of art artifacts, which including forms of art and storytelling. and storytelling.

Ararat: ConclusionArarat: Conclusion Closing –Closing –1.1. What Raffi shows to Celia: What Raffi shows to Celia:

“I felt it” “His ghost.”“I felt it” “His ghost.”

Ararat: ConclusionArarat: Conclusion

Closing –Closing –

2. The hands’ touching 2. The hands’ touching and workingand working

Reference Reference

Tom McSorley. “Far Away, So Close: AtTom McSorley. “Far Away, So Close: Atom Egoyan Returns Home with Ararat.” om Egoyan Returns Home with Ararat.” Take OneTake One 2002 (Sept-Nov): 8-13. 2002 (Sept-Nov): 8-13.