“I do not belong to the type of artists who say a title and prizes are no good. In fact the bad things are false prizes and titles, but if you consider yourself an honest person who deserves this prize, this makes you work even better” – this was Honorary Artist of Armenia, People’s Artist, laureate of a number of international prizes, film director Harutyun Khachatryan’s answer to my question “What is the importance of President Prize to you?”. Harutyun Khachatryan received the prize back in 2010 for his film called “Borders”.
According to Harutyun, every prize is important to artists. “Unfortunately, in small countries one is either being praised way too much, or they are not even paid attention to. Especially in case of cinema it is like fashion. There are a few artists who during their lifetime are being fairly awarded. And this is why many artists and film directors, who have not been “spoilt” from fame, consider every prize important, moreover if it is a President Prize. Back in Soviet times it was a common phenomenon when a few artists would become MPs, would be awarded with Lenin medals; well, there were many talented ones among them, as well as unworthy ones. However currently artists are not being spoilt to this extent.
The film director tells every time a discussion starts over who is worth a prize and who is not, this turns to a quarrel, as “everyone believes they are worth a prize”.
It is a pity that artists never tend to criticize themselves greatly, rather consider themselves valuable and important people. There are a few artists who doubt their work. I read many great critics today who say there is no such a thing as Armenian cinema. Still back then when we were young, whenever we would go to the cinema we would always see that many who failed in cinematography, who did not make a progress in film directing, ended up stating Armenian cinema is not a serious one.
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There have been and still exist many assessments of the current state of Armenian cinema, as if it is in rehabilitation ward, later being believed that Armenian cinema is dead, what do you think which stage the cinema is currently in? “Back in time when Beknazanyan would make films, people would call them nonsense, and the poor man was forced to escape, taking a train to leave the country for Moscow”, because he knew that he would be pushed in the corner by his favourite cinematographs, as they had an “excellent” understanding of cinema. Dmitry Kesayants, who was an interesting film director, Arman Manaryan – were also once attacked in a similar manner. If we open the KGB and Communist Party archives, we shall see that mostly colleagues attacked each other, by saying there is no art, not willing to let any of them succeed. It is very strange that Armenia still has cinema today, because cinema is a rich lifestyle, a tool for countries that create rich conditions. Small and poor countries that are at war, that have survived an earthquake, that are constantly undergoing tensions, blockades, cannot spend too much money on cinema, while it is impossible to make a film without much funding. Although, god bless, there are films, that are presented in numerous international festivals and do receive prizes… We held weeks of Armenian cinema in Rome, Italy, and Italian film critics wrote “Armenian cinema was unknown to us yet is an incredible and astonishing one”.
People have always said Armenian cinema is dead. They do not understand the reality, they do not realize that by saying this they disappoint people, the youth. During the past years, many young people received President Prize. This was a great result, the youth were invigorated, and started to make films and presented those to different international festivals, brough the “Golden Apricot” and Academy awards. So, I think that we should not take seriously those who are envisioning the death of Armenian cinema. This has always been a repeated phrase. Back in time it was believed that there is no Armenian painting after Saryan, but here came Henry Igityan who discovered such painters who gained international fame, became popular and interesting artists. This depends on a few people – a few pair of eyes, a few feelings and on those who have wisdom. It is easy to break and hurt a person, by saying that there is no Armenian cinema. Look, you turn 65-70 and have made 15-20 films, received 40-50 prizes, and then they come saying there is no Armenian cinema. It sems that all you have created in lifetime becomes redundant”.
Harutyun Khachatryan is not offended, he says – let them love the works of Americans, the Japanese, but to him every advancement in Armenian cinema is a progress, because for the people who have gone through dark years, who have small opportunities, but still have the ability to create, it should be valued by all means. “I think there still exists Armenian cinema, it is not dead or in rehabilitation mode. Years ago when we would ask ourselves what could be done to help the cinema, we found the solution and created a film festival, this way enabling the youth to see what goes on in the world, not being satisfied with what Russia or Georgia offer. The first years when the Golden Apricot was held, we could hardly find 1 or 2 Armenian films to present but following 5-6 years we realized we had overcome that temporary difficulty. There are films now that have not been presented during the festival, because there is no propaganda, there is nothing to invigorate. Do you know how many film directors there are who are offended and keep on swearing at all the people who have opportunities, and funding? They do swear at me too sometimes, they criticize me and consider old and do not value me. But I know how offensive it is when your art, the work you have put so much energy in, a film you have made at the sake of your life is not perceived and is not awarded a prize. In this case you just need to understand and let go. I put the President Prize in this row, every prize rises the spirit and gives opportunities to the film director to continue creating, brings trust to oneself and makes strive forward. Art is one of our weapons, you should decide upon what weapon you want to use, whether you want to use a cannon or a film, a photo exhibition or a “mortar”, music or minesweeper or a gun. All of these are important weapons, by all means.
Hripsime Jebejyan
The President Prize to the Republic of Armenia is initiated and funded by the Boghossian Foundation (Belgium-Switzerland). The Award Ceremony is organized by “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. The prizes are conferred by the RA President and the representatives of the Boghossian Foundation annually.
“Aravot” daily
23.04.2020
