CAPITOL HILL SCREENING OF "THE LARK FARM" CAPTIVATES AUDIENCE

armradio.am
15.04.2008 13:43

Over 150 congressional staffers and community activists were present
for a special Capitol Hill screening of "The Lark Farm" (La Masseria
delle Allodole), a powerful film depicting the events of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America, Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).

Hosted by the ANCA-ER, in cooperation with Rep. Daniel Lipinski
(D-IL-3), "The Lark Farm" tells the moving story of an Italian
Armenian family planning a visit to their home in Ottoman Turkey,
only to be caught up in the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. It is
based on the novel "Skylark Farm" by Antonia Arslan, which has thus
far won 17 book awards in Europe, including the Italian P.E.N. Club
Award. Already translated into fourteen languages, "Skylark Farm"
was recently selected as a First Fiction Finalist for the 2008 Los
Angeles Times Book Prize.

Addressing the crowd during his introductory remarks, Cong. Lipinski
stated, "I am very happy to have been able to play this role in
bringing this film here up to Capitol Hill. I know that the issue of
the Armenian Genocide is one that we have to keep working on bringing
public attention to.

Unfortunately, it has been swept under the rug and we really need
to shine the light on it. This film really helps to do that, and
to spread the word about what happened there to so many millions
of Armenians." The representative concluded with "We need to fight
against genocide wherever it occurs to prevent future genocides."

The Lark Farm, directed by brothers Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani,
was featured at the Berlin Film Festival, as well as in Spain and
Armenia. With an outstanding international cast, including Paz Vega,
Mohammed Bakri, Tcheky Karyo and Arsinee Khanjian, the film helps the
viewer understand the struggles and devastation that the Armenians
endured from Turkish authorities during the genocide.

Following the movie, Arslan addressed the crowd, during which attendees
thanked her for all that she had done to raise awareness on this
issue. On tour in America to promote her novel, which has recently
been released in paperback, Arslan has traveled throughout the world
speaking to hundreds of thousands about the story of her family. "I am
very excited about being in America. The warm welcome from the various
audiences I have spoken to, both Armenian and non-Armenian, has been
wonderful. I hope the novel and the movie can play a role in connecting
not only the Armenian communities throughout the Diaspora, but also
in connecting Armenians to those who do not have any connection to
the Armenian people at all. My family’s story is really the story of
all those who struggled – and continue to struggle – for survival,
for life, during and after a genocide."

Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Professor of Philosophy at Manhattanville
College in New York City and close friend of Arslan, made a
powerful closing statement at the event, "Without truth, there is
no peace." Marshall, who hosted a book reading of Skylark Farm at
Manhattanville College earlier this month, has been instrumental in
pursuing the advancement of this issue through education.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress