TAVIANI BROTHERS, AUTHORS OF FILM LARK FARM AWARDED S.PARAJANOV PRIZE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the Golden
Apricot (Voske Tsiran) international film festival, the renowned
Italian film directors the Paolo and Vittorio Taviani brothers have
been awarded the S. Parajanov prize for their great services in the
world cinema. Festival Chairman Haroutiun Khachatrian, giving the
prize to P. Taviani, expressed gratitude to the film directors for
presenting the Armenian Genocide in their film. It should be mentioned
that the Taviani brothers have also received the RA President’s prize.

Expressing satisfaction for having been awarded the S. Parajanov prize,
P. Taviani said: "S. Parajanov was one of those exclusive directors,
whose art gave something new to the sphere of cinematography. Among
European artists I have never met a director who had as much strength
and imagination as Parajanov. The Armenian director’s novelties are
considered as victories and achievements of cinematography."

The Italian film director said that the idea of shooting a film about
the Armenian Genocide emerged after had he read Antonia Arslan’s book
Lark Farm.

"During our childhood we saw Fascism, many difficulties and disasters,
which also to some extent had an impact on our decision to shoot a
film," he said.

In the director’s words, the life of an Armenian woman with the name
Melania who worked as a housemaid in their house was also a basis for
creating the film. She had told some episodes from her life mentioning
the crimes committed by the Turkish authorities.

"When we were young, we were almost unaware of the Armenian Genocide,
as not only we, but also Italian society knew nothing about it. Now
it is the opposite, they more often touch upon that subject, and
many articles and books are published in Italy on the subject of the
Genocide," P. Taviani said.