SYNOPSIS
Based on a true story, this is a subtle tale of re-affirmation of the identity of the artist following the Armenian Diaspora. It is an encounter with his alter-ego, a dialogue with his own conscience, a gradual dawning of the truth and an authentic glance at life... themes understandable by all. The film is an episode in the life of the director, a life full of surprises, and all the more so for being a cosmopolitan Armenian-American now standing on his native soil, his ultimate source of creative energy and ideas. In 1988, he left the motherland and achieved some success in Hollywood. Now he returns with his Jewish wife to shoot a film. In searching out locations, he encounters a homeless young woman in a suburban sand pit, who lives in a ramshackle car and befriends wandering dogs. It is a fateful meeting creating a conflict within the hero which leads to the dramatic climax, pivotal to his grasping of his own truth. He must make the difficult choice between head and heart, whether to be led by the dictates of reason or of emotion, whether to give up a comfortable existence or completely reverse the direction of his life.
Awards
Best Actress | National Cinema Hayak Awards, Armenia, 2013
CAST & CREW
Vigen Chaldranyan
Director
Producer(s)
Vigen Chaldranian
Script
Vigen Chaldranian
Director of Photography
Arthur Ustyan, Hakob Karanfilyan
Music by
Gary Kesayan
Sound
Anna Drojenko, Hmayak Rostomyan
Edit
Tigran Baghinyan
Cast
Vigen Chaldranian,Mariam Davtyan,Marine Sargsyan,Hripsime Sahakyan,Khachatur Martirosyan,Sevak Harutyunyan,Astghik Grigoryan
Production company(ies)
VS & TIGERS FILM PRODUCTION
Vigen Chaldranyan
Born 1955, Yerevan, Armenia. Film director, scriptwriter, producer and actor Chaldranian entered Yerevan Institute of Art and Theatre in 1975, and after graduating from the Department of Art of Acting, studied Theatre Directing at the same institute. Later he studied in the department of Film Directing at Moscow All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), where in 1978, he shot his first short film Gold Laughs, based on Jack London’s story. Vigen Chaldranian has created dozen films. In 2001, the President of the Republic of Armenia awarded him the Movses Khorenatsi Medal. In 2006, he was awarded RA Union of Cinematographers’ Anahit Award for his contributions to Armenian cinematography. In 2007, he was given the title of the Honorary Worker of Art of the Republic of Armenia. In 2008, he was elected as a Full member, academician of the International Academy of Sciences of Nature and Society. In the same year the Western European Academy of Sciences and Arts awarded him Professor Sofi Takhalova’s Golden Star Award (Netherlands). The European Academy of Natural Sciences awarded him Gold Cross of Ludwig II of Bavaria (Germany, 2009). In 2010, the US branch of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences awarded him the title of academician (overseas member) along with the Crown and Eagle Medal for his contribution to filmmaking. In 2010 the Fridtjof Nansen Fund in Armenia awarded him the Fridtjof Nansen Golden Medal. Chaldranian has also received prizes and diplomas at various international film festivals. In 2011, the first National Cinema Hayak Awards was granted to the film by V. Chaldranian, A Voice in the Wilderness as the best feature film since Independence in 1991.
Filmography
April (1985), A Voice in the Wilderness… (1991), My Farewell to Be… (1993), Armenians (1994), …I Returned Home (1993), Chrism (1996), Lord, Have Mercy (1997), Symphony of Silence (2001), The Priestess (2007), Tours in Japan (2009), Maestro (2010), The Voice of Silence (2013).
