Interview with renowned film director Roman Balayan
-How do you assess the late lamented Armen Mazmanyan’s works, Rector of Yerevan Theatre and Film Institute?
– It was always visible for me from the side to what Armen did. I do not live here, and do not share anyone’s opinion, I say what I saw and felt.
The Commission, the competent authorities, who are responsible for appointing a new rector, should try to choose someone who has the willingness to continue the path, the beginning and the course of which was laid by Armen, otherwise the university will discontinue living on and developing.
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– The most commonly spread question in these days is perhaps about the type of Mazmanyan and the memories associated with him. How were you acquainted with him? How did you become close?
– It was a cultural event in Kiev, I entered the hall at the last moment, and someone was speaking on the stage in fluent Russian. I waited in the hallway to see him; I said that he is speaking perfectly, that I am pleasantly surprised, and that from now on he is my friend. So we were acquainted…
It was like love at first sight (he smiles). This impression did not change. I just followed his activities in the Institute, everything was considered, designed, very solid and strong.
Not everyone liked Armen… He was unique, with different variations. Once I jokingly asked his wife, Nina, how can you stand it… She said, you will never get bored with Armen, and it definitely was so. He was immediately absorbing the idea, and quickly calculating implementation options…
I’ve heard different contradictory opinions about him from many places, I was never interested in them, because I have had my distinct opinion about Rector Armen, film director Armen, and Armen – a man.
Once, on the way to the institute, we saw students standing in the courtyard, with their hands in pockets. He looked at the students and shouted, “I don’t understand, what manner is this. How are you standing in front of the institute? With your hands in pockets?… Who are you?… Future artists? Quickly take out your hands from pockets.”
I looked at him in surprise. I could not say such a thing. He looked at me and said, Roman, this is not just a building, this is a temple, they have no right to behave like that. I myself share this conviction, but I would keep silent in this status… It’s good that there was someone who was not used to keep silent.
The changes that he had done to the Institute, only one with steel nerves could have done it, how he directed the wheel of the Institute, how, and where… And his people who had brought together with him, who understood him from his every movement and passed through everything with him, were perfectly working together.
God forbid that the new rector does not continue this path, does not perceive his team. The new one should be the continuation, with his new ideas.
So, Armen’s loss was not only the loss of a friend, someone with a bright creative mind left, who clearly knew the form and the mean of everything in his sphere. He left the mazmanyan spirit after him, the energetic and creative team and students like him, who have not yet adapted to the loss.
– I know that in addition to practical communication (“Armenian Art Cinema” and high courses of Cinematography jointly implemented by YSITC), we were often talking together in private. What new ideas, thought had Armen Mazmanyan, which seemed especially vital and important to you.
– During the recent conversation, he talked about many new ideas (on December 28). Especially, one was very dear to his heart, and he would like to see it implemented. The matter is about new student film festival, which was to be held not in Yerevan. This festival was something to be developed in collaboration with his creative team and the students, the aim of which was to gather the youth of the world in one place and to conduct it in a city of Armenia, every year.
The festival, as he said, was not just a festival, but a “search” which would become a platform of new movie, new ideas, and new “Hrant Matevosyans”. This would be a great opportunity for the Armenian young for sharing experience and promoting the formation of a new outlook. God grant this idea does not die with Armen, and the public and private organizations get interested in it.
He had another objective, which he started to work related to the team of UNESCO theatrical schools… And, again, more and more ideas and projects which for me as an Armenian are very important for the development of culture.
He was not just sitting in the official chair, he was proud of this place. He was very concerned for his creativity, his theater, but occupying the position of rector, he was leading the future artists in “his own way”. I liked this very “his own way” much.
I’ll allow me to say it again that it is not my right to talk about the successor, but I can not avoid mentioning that what Armen started should go on. This is my greatest desire.
In these sad days, I saw the students’ weeping faces, mazmanyan spirit and character that they have inherited. This is wonderful, and one just should not disappoint these students.
The new one has to adopt these principles. And, let this dream-festival become a reality, which in no way harms, but vice versa, contributes to existing festivals, one of which is unique of its kind in the region, the “Golden Apricot”. Life goes on. Let’s hope that the institute expects such good and productive days, like it was during Armen’s time.
Interviewer, Anush Kocharyan
