Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat” film escalated protests in Turkey

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 17:28

Canadian-Armenian director Atom Egoyan’s `Ararat’ was screened
yesterday in Turkey. As irt had been promised, the film was shown
completely, one a few episodes were cut.

For two years different Turkish Companies were trying to present the
film, picturing only one cadre of the most bloody crime carried out by
their ancestors to the attention of the public. However, the threats
of Turkish rightist nationalists to set the cinemas on fire could
become reality.

Thus, at the eve of the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 11
days before April 24, the CanalTurk private company aired `Ararat’
film, picturing the most dramatic page of our history. Of course,
before airing the film, the spokesman of the channel considered it his
duty to say that the film is a very bad one and none of the episode
corresponds to reality. Nevertheless, the film was screened. First it
was said that it would be shown without cuts, but our compatriot
residing in Turkey, editor-in-chief of `Agos’ weekly Hrant Dink told
`Radiolur’ correspondent that some of the scenes of the brutalities
against Armenian women were, however, cut.

Yesterday Hrant Dink told our correspondent that the film will be
followed by a discussion, featuring Hrant Dink, a Turkish serviceman
and a film critic.

Turkish nationalists declared yesterday that they would hold an act of
protest in front of the CanalTurk TV Company. However, the policemen
were actually ready to prevent their activity. In the result of this
tension, our compatriot, rushing to the TV Company, did not manage to
participate in the discussion.