"From Ararat to Zion" film presents so far unknown Armenian history of
the Promised Land
YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. VivaCell-MTS continues
to accomplish its mission by sponsoring cultural projects that present
the history of the Armenian people to the world. As the sponsor of the
"From Ararat to Zion" film’s screening in Armenia, the company
allocated 10 million drams.
A press conference on the Armenian premiere of "From Ararat to Zion"
documentary filmed by Vem Media Art studio was held in the lobby of
the Moscow Cinema on May 5. Among speakers were the film’s director
Edgar Baghdasarian, the producer and scriptwriter Father Mesrop
Aramian, the director of photography Ruben Gasparian, as well as the
film sponsors – Director General of VivaCell-MTS company Ralph
Yirikian, Director of Flagship Ventures company Nubar Afeyan (U.S).
and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Troyka Dialog group Ruben
Vardanian.
The film’s hero is an Armenian pilgrim who has followed paths full of
threats and calls himself a person "who saw death". Thanks to this
greatest spiritual feat and sacrifice, the Armenians are now at the
center of the world and are among the main legitimate owners of the
key Christian holy places.
"Wherever the Armenians have set their foot, they have left behind
golden traces due to their work and great achievements," Ralph
Yirikian said.
The members of the crew – which made a film about the spiritual feat
and sacrifice as well as the path that the Armenians have followed
from one significant historical mountain to the other – saw the whole
way leading to the Holy Tomb through the eyes of pilgrims. The
documentary depicts the spirit of the oath that created and preserved
the holy places and monsteries of the Holy Land over the centuries. At
the cost of great sacrifice and suffering, the vilgrims come to the
Holy Land in order to sense the presence of God. Most historical data
used in the film is not preseved in the Armenian historiography, and
evidences and relics of great imporance to our identity are shown for
the first time.
"This film is a unique message to humanity. The world’s nations should
know that over the centuries Christianity has been not only a
religion, but also a world-view and a basis of national existence for
the Armenians. Throughout its existence, the Armenian nation has
displayed a deep devotion to the Christian values – despite genocide
and attemps to assimilate it and force it change its religion. The
film is also a message to us, the contemporaries: we must be worthy
descendants of our ancestors and remain true to our religion – our
indentity," Ralph Yirikian stated.
During the film shooting, its crew went to Egypt and Turkey and made
three trips to Israel. The original English text of the film is
narrated by the famous Hollywood actor Aidan Quinn. The film is also
enriched with the voice of Lisa Gerrard, a popular singer in cinema.
"From Ararat to Zion" is a film calling on the Armenians to get rid of
the complex of a small nation and take their history into their own
hands.
The film has entered the final stages of 8 international film
festivals. Its world premiere is scheduled for May 12 in the UK. It is
planned to broadcast the film in the U.S, Europe and Russia.