Ararat Press Conference
Festival Daily Toronto International Film Festival - 6 Septembre 2002

by Heather Murray

Last night, Ararat opened the 27th annual Toronto Film Festival. As a testament to the momentous evening, producer Robert Lantos joked, "What's the question? It was a late night," when the cast and crew gathered to discuss the film this morning.

Ararat tackles the aftermath of the often forbidden subject of the Armenian genocide of 1915. Its renowned Canadian director and writer, Atom Egoyan stated, "I think what was exciting about last night was that we could bring the film back to Toronto."

Egoyan was keen to stress that it's a Canadian film. "It's really about how we, in this culture, not only have to tell these stories, but we have to respond and listen. It's about this incredible responsibility that we're all faced with."

Actor Arsinée Khajian shared her husband's sentiment, "In our society we encounter people from elsewhere and even though all of us are here with a common spirit for the future…it is a necessity to understand who we are and who the other is, and what their history is."

Egoyan, whose film credits include The Sweet Hereafter and Exotica, claims the point of his most recent feature is to show the denial that continues to this day. "How we remember in a specific way is how we prevent it from happening again."

To explain why the genocide is but one element of the story and is set in present day, Egoyan retells an exchange he had with his young son. After recounting the history to his son, he asked, "Dad, did the Turks apologize?" When Egoyan realized the answer was no, he also came to realize that "the drama isn't what happened 87 years ago, it's what's happening in bedrooms and hallways in Toronto right now."

The plight of the Armenians is a little-known subject, but regardless Egoyan's story drew interest from talent before many even read the script, including actors Bruce Greenwood and Marie-Josée Croze, who stated that it was a "fairytale" to be involved.

The film is "a work of art complete in its conception and execution," came the high praise from actor Elias Koteas, who himself is a well-known scriptwriter. And Lantos stated, "It's a rare opportunity in one's career to be able to play a role in making something that absolutely must be made."

Newcomer, David Alpay, plays the part of an angry young man stopped at the border on his return to Canada. When discussing his portrayal, he says he's unsure "how much of the character I found in me and how much is a projection of Atom." This may be due to the fact that both Egoyan and his wife are of Armenian descent and have experienced denial of the tragic events first-hand.

Due to the continued denial by the Turks, the media questioned whether the film might meet resistance or protest when released. "Maybe if we were living in the heyday of the Ottoman Empire," quipped Lantos in response. "We will proceed as with any other film."

- Heather Murray