Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat” Opens in Fresno

For years Armenians around the world have been anticipating the production of a major motion picture on the Armenian Genocide
Now they have it in full force.

Canadian film director/producer Atom Egoyan has created a masterpiece, which opened at Edwards Theatre in Fresno, on Wednesday, November 27, 2002.
Fresno Armenians gathered at 10AM on opening morning to watch, for the first time in Fresno, the movie “Ararat.” With their ticket stubs in hand, Armenians ranging in age from young children to elderly, some of whom were genocide survivors, proudly entered the theater for the premiere.

Along with the many local Armenians, civic and community leaders such as Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, State Senator (R-14th) Chuck Poochigian, Congressman-elect (R-CA 21st) Devin Nunes and State Assemblyman-elect (R-29th) Steve Samuelian were present at this showing. Representatives from U.S. Senator’s and the governors’ offices were also present.

Initial plans for the distribution of “Ararat” called for openings in New York and Los Angeles on November 15, with openings in ten other U.S. markets on November 27. These plans did not include a Fresno showing, but the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State led a grass-roots campaign to persuade Miramax to open the film in Fresno as well. E-mails and telephone calls flooded the local theater as well as Miramax headquarters.

“Ararat” represents the first major motion picture to treat the issue of the Armenian Genocide. Director Egoyan made a film that looks directly at the issue of the Turkish government’s persistent denial of the Genocide and the effects of that denial on succeeding generations of Armenians.

The Armenian Studies Program and the Armenian National Committee of Fresno hosted a press conference immediately following the premiere. Professor Dickran Kouymjian, Director of the Armenian Studies Program and Hygo Ohannessian, from the ANC of Fresno, welcomed Mayor Autry and State Senator Chuck Poochigian in a discussion of the film’s impact in Fresno and the United States as a whole.
Prof. Kouymjian commented on the movie stating that for Egoyan to tell this story was an extraordinary challenge. He related the “Ararat” to a film called “Shoah,” made by the famous French film-maker, Claude Lanzmann, who felt that it would be difficult to make a film on the Holocaust . He attempted to do so by portraying the day to day life of the mechanics of operating the camps in a nine-hour film. Prof. Kouymjian had many interesting comments concerning “Ararat” and its complex structure.

Mayor Autry commented on the political influences concerning the acknowledgment of the Genocide. Mayor Autry commented that the film was, “Moving, disturbing and inspiring from moment to moment.”
“There are some movies which just have to be made,” he said, ‘Grapes of Wrath,’ ‘Roots,’ ‘Schindler’s List,’ and ‘Ararat’ is one of them. I have been in many movies and I know a good one when I see it. As a mayor I am proud that we have this film.” The Mayor went on record saying that the right time to do the right thing is right now. I don’t think we are demonizing Turkey by asking its government to acknowledge the Genocide, which is universally recognized.
The Mayor also stated that he would support a memorial to the Armenian Genocide in Fresno.

State Senator Poochigian first saw the film in Los Angeles where he commented that it was a special feeling to have met the director and actors prior to viewing the film in an extremely large theater.

“To be able to experience this film in such a large audience where hundreds of people were experiencing the emotions and sensations of the film at the same time was absolutely amazing,” said Poochigian.

Congressman Poochigian said during the press conference that, “This is not a movie for Armenians but about Armenians.”
Congressman-elect Devin Nunes shared that it was interesting that “Ararat” was not a documentary.

“This film was made as an everyday film for citizens to watch with an injection of reality of the genocide.”

Nunes stated that he would work with Congressman Radanovich to ensure that at some point the Turkish government recognizes that something took place concerning the devastation of the Armenians.

Many who viewed the film expressed the desire to see it again.

In Fresno, as I’m sure elsewhere, members of the audience watched the credits roll and simply sat in their seats in silent awe as the images of genocide lingered.