Aurora’s Sunrise is Armenia’s entry for the “Best International Feature Film” category at the next Academy Awards.
It tells the true and inspiring story of Aurora Mardiganian, a survivor of the Armenian genocide, whose harrowing ordeal became the subject of a film in the 1920s.
It was one of the great successes of the early 1920s in the United States.
This year’s film combines animated and archival documents to tell this personal story, which is also the story of a people.
“’When I became familiar with the story of Aurora Mardiganian and her statement, I understood that this was the unique way to talk about my nation’s suffering, but through the universal and very personal story of a young girl who survived the genocide but never gave up and never lost her humanity while trying to help our people,” director Inna Sahakyan tells CNNBreakingNews.net Culture.
After fleeing to New York, her 1918 book was filmed as Auction of Souls. She played herself in the movie which described the violence she and her family experienced.
“Although I talk about difficult topics, about genocide, I always try to show the beauty of the country and the connection that my character and all of us Armenians have with our country, our memories and our beautiful part of our past,” says Sahakyan.
“And that’s why I think animations and illustrations were the best way to capture the beauty and memories of my main character.”
The film is the first animated documentary of its kind to be shot in Armenia and in which European co-producers (Lithuania and Germany) were significantly involved.
The film is of great aesthetic mastery and is a memento of Armenia.
Click on the video above for clips from Aurora’s Sunrise and our interview with director Inna Sahakyan.
Aurora’s Sunrise is Armenia’s entry for the “Best International Feature Film” category at the next Academy Awards.
It tells the true and inspiring story of Aurora Mardiganian, a survivor of the Armenian genocide, whose harrowing ordeal became the subject of a film in the 1920s.
It was one of the great successes of the early 1920s in the United States.
This year’s film combines animated and archival documents to tell this personal story, which is also the story of a people.
“’When I became familiar with the story of Aurora Mardiganian and her statement, I understood that this was the unique way to talk about my nation’s suffering, but through the universal and very personal story of a young girl who survived the genocide but never gave up and never lost her humanity while trying to help our people,” director Inna Sahakyan tells CNNBreakingNews.net Culture.
After fleeing to New York, her 1918 book was filmed as Auction of Souls. She played herself in the movie which described the violence she and her family experienced.
“Although I talk about difficult topics, about genocide, I always try to show the beauty of the country and the connection that my character and all of us Armenians have with our country, our memories and our beautiful part of our past,” says Sahakyan.
“And that’s why I think animations and illustrations were the best way to capture the beauty and memories of my main character.”
The film is the first animated documentary of its kind to be shot in Armenia and in which European co-producers (Lithuania and Germany) were significantly involved.
The film is of great aesthetic mastery and is a memento of Armenia.
Click on the video above for clips from Aurora’s Sunrise and our interview with director Inna Sahakyan.