`Book of Eli’ Directors Talk About Being Armenian
By Armenian Weekly
on January 16, 2010
WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.) – On Friday, Jan. 15, `The Book of Eli,’
starring Denzel Washington, opened in theatres nationwide. The film is
directed by twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes, whose previous
commercial film was `From Hell,’ released in 2001.
The Hughes brothers
In an article published in USA Today earlier this week, director
Albert Hughes talked about their experiences, saying, `People were
hailing us as the new school of black directors. I hated that. For
one, we’re half Armenian, half black. For another, that’s offensive.
We wouldn’t pose with other young black directors, because you
wouldn’t do that with, say Italian directors.’ (see “Book of Eli’
directors Allen and Albert Hughes open up’ by Scott Bowles, USA Today,
Jan. 14, 2010).
The Hughes brothers were born in Detroit, Mich. Their African-American
father left them when they were two. Thereafter, together with their
`staunch feminist’ Armenian mother, Aida, they moved to Pomona, Calif.
(see `The Brothers Hughes’ by Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today, Oct. 18,
2001).
The Huges brothers often talk about their Armenian background. `One
thing [our Armenian side] did was to provide an audience. When we
began making movies, they were supportive. While the black side was
not open to us because we were half white, the Armenian half always
welcomed us,’ Albert says. `I attribute generosity and humbleness to
Armenians…Is that a trait of the culture… Armenians, in my opinion,
are generous to a fault. I’ve never been greedy and that comes from my
Armenian side.’ (see `Albert Hughes Forges His Own Art’ by Hrag
Vartanian, , April 1, 2005).
For more information about `The Book of Eli,’ go to
From: Baghdasarian