PREMIERE: ARARAT-FOURTEEN VIEWS by Don Askarian
In 2004, l'Alternativa programmed a Don Askarian retrospective to introduce the Barcelona public to the work of this fascinating and highly personal filmmaker. This year, he will be at the festival to talk about his latest film, Ararat-Fourteen views, presented at the 2007
Rotterdam Film Festival in the Maestros: Kings & Aces section to the widespread acclaim of critics and the public alike.
The film centres on Ararat, Armenia's holy mountain out of reach in Turkey. The director views his mountain through the eyes of a poet, dancer, painter and filmmaker.
Askarian continues to explore the limits of fiction and documentary to give a lucid and critical modern-day vision of his country, whilst reaffirming hope in human beings and love.
Don Askarian (Armenia, 1949) studied history and art in Moscow and later worked as assistant director and film critic. Imprisoned between 1975 and 1977, he moved to West Berlin on his release, where he started to give shape to his meditations on Armenia in exile by adapting Chekhov's The Bear (1984). He has since directed a number of documentaries, biographical works and fictional feature films that have won widespread praise at film festivals worldwide.
Ararat - Fourteen Views Don Askarian (Germany / Holland/ Armenia)