Ararat (2002)
- Starring:
- David Alpay, Charles Aznavour, (more)
- Director(s):
- Atom Egoyan
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Drama, Independent Films
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Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan explores his Armenian heritage, and how the country's tragic history has touched several generations of the nation's expatriates, in this ambitious drama. Edward Saroyan (Charles Aznavour), a veteran filmmaker of Armenian descent, is in Toronto shooting a film about the Siege of Van, in which invading Ottoman armies forced the evacuation of Armenian communities in 1915, leading to the genocide of over a million Armenian people at the hands of Turkish troops. Twenty-one-year-old Raffi (David Alpay) has been sent to Turkey to shoot background footage for the film; Raffi's mother Ani (Arsinee Khanjian), an author and historian, is also involved in the project as a consultant. Lately Raffi and Ani have been at odds; Raffi has been dating Celia (Marie-Josee Croze), Ani's stepdaughter, who is convinced that Ani is somehow responsible for the death of her father. Ani's first husband, who was Raffi's father, is also dead, after taking part in an assassination attempt on a Turkish political leader. As Raffi attempts to re-enter Canada with cans of exposed film, he's detained by David (Christopher Plummer), a suspicious customs official who has his own tenuous link to Saroyan's film -- David is struggling to come to terms with the gay lifestyle of his son Philip (Brent Carver), whose lover Ali (Elias Koteas) is playing the villain in the picture. Ararat also features Eric Bogosian and Bruce Greenwood. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 115 mins
Complete Cast:
- David Alpay - Raffi
- Eric Bogosian - Rouben
- Marie-Josée Croze - Celia
- Arsinée Khanjian - Ani
- Christopher Plummer - David
- Setta Keshishian - Wailing Mother
- Max Morrow - Tony
- Lousnak - Shushan Gorky
- Linda Gizirian - Rape Victim
- Arthur Hagopian - Armenian Fighter
- Kevork Arslanian - Armenian Fighter
- Haig Sarkissian - Sevan
- Shant Srabian - Doctor 1
- Nicole Anoush Strang - Girl Under Cart
- Varazh Stephen - Doctor 2
- Andrea Loren - Armenian Bride
- Mandyf Nissani - Armenian Bride
- Manuel Ishkhanian - Teen Patient's Brother
- Chris Gillett - Celia's Father
- Garen Boyajian - Young Gorky
- Roberta Angelica - Armenian Bride
- Susan Raymond - German Woman
- Gina Wilkinson - Art Teacher
- Charles Aznavour - Edward Saroyan
- Brent Carver - Philip
- Bruce Greenwood - Martin/Clarence Ussher
- Elias Koteas - Ali/Jevdet Bey
- Simon Abkarian - Arshile Gorky
- Christie MacFadyen - Janet
- Raoul Bhaneja - Photographer
- Lousnak Abdalian - Gorky's Mother
- George Kharlakian - Armenian Fighter
- Vic Keshishian - Armenian Fighter
- Arshile Egoyan - Child At Gallery
- Dawn Roach - Customs Officer
- Araxie Keshishian - Armenian Bride
- Samir Alnadi - Turkish Officer
- Shant Kabriellan - Armenian Fighter
- Manal Elmasri - Armenian Bride
- Lorna Noura Kevorkian - Armenian Bride
- Shahan Bulat-Matossian - Wounded Teen Patient
- Carlo Essagian - Turkish Soldier
- Erica Ehm - Journalist
- Jean Yoon - Third Assistent Director
- Rose Sarkisyan - Translator
- Director(s):
- Atom Egoyan
- Writer(s):
- Atom Egoyan
- Producer(s):
- Robert Lantos, Atom Egoyan
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Nudity, Adult Language, Violence, Sexual Situations)
- Categories:
- Drama, Independent Films
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- 2002 - Ararat - Genie Awards - Best Costume Design
- 2002 - Ararat - Genie Awards - Best Supporting Actor
- 2002 - Ararat - Genie Awards - Best Picture
- 2002 - Ararat - Genie Awards - Best Orignal Score
- 2002 - Ararat - Genie Awards - Best Actress
- 2002 - Ararat - National Board of Review - Freedom of Expression Award
