‘BOOK OF ELI’ NOW IN THEATRES, DIRECTORS TALK ABOUT BEING ARMENIAN

Tert.am
15:37 ~U 18.01.10

"The Book of Eli," starring Denzel Washington, opened in U.S. theatres
nationwide. The film is directed by twin brothers Allen and Albert
Hughes, whose previous commercial film was "From Hell," released in
2001, reports Armenian Weekly.

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."

The Hughes brothers were born in Detroit, Michigan. Their
African-American father left them when they were two. Thereafter,
together with their "staunch feminist" Armenian mother, Aida, they
moved to Pomona, California.

The Huges brothers often talk about their Armenian background. In a
2005 interview with Hrag Vartanian, Albert Hughes said, "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. 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."