Ararat's Canadian debut controversial
National Post - 5 Septembre 2002

By Aaron Wherry

When Atom Egoyan's Ararat opens the Toronto International Film Festival tonight, it will do so under the same cloud of
controversy that has trailed the much-anticipated film since its production.

While set in present-day Toronto, Ararat deals with the Armenian genocide in Turkey in 1915. The movie opened earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, where Egoyan removed it from official competition because of the tensions that surrounded its release.

Now, upon the film's Canadian debut, the Armenian National Committee of Toronto is taking issue with what it says is the Turkish government's "public relations campaign against the movie," though government officials deny any agenda against the film.

According to Aris Babikian, communications officer for the ANC of Toronto, the Turkish government has threatened the film's producers, threatened Egoyan and attempted to discredit the director and attack his personal life.

An official at the Turkish embassy in Ottawa says the country's government is concerned by the film's content, but is not
participating in a campaign against the film and will not be mounting any form of protest when the film debuts in Toronto
tonight.

"There has been no threatening," said Fazli Corman, counsellor for the Turkish embassy. "It's the right of everyone to have artistic creation."

Corman said while the Turkish government is not involved, many Turks may be angered by the film.

"If there are any demonstrations it wouldn't have anything to do with us," Corman said. "Atom Egoyan has many fans in Turkey. Or should I say 'had' because I don't know what the reaction will be when people see this film."

Egoyan's Ararat may needlessly reopen old wounds and ignite new "hatred and animosity" between Armenians and Turks, Corman said. Though he has not yet seen the film, Corman said he has read parts of the script.

Phone calls to the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations were not returned, but a posting on their Web site says: "We have the deepest respect for the artistic talent of the director, Atom Egoyan, yet we fear that his depiction of history in his latest movie is extremely biased ... Telling a one-sided story does not do victims of this great tragedy justice. Nor does it help in promoting goodwill between Canadians of Turkish and Armenian descent. It is our sincere hope that Ararat will be introduced under the caveat that it is an artistic rendering and one perspective of the tragic events of Anatolia and that it is based on disputed historic accounts."

Babikian said he has not seen the film, but will attend its Toronto premiere. He said he doesn't know of any protests planned for the gala opening.

According to Corman, no embassy or government officials will be in attendance.