Feted Film: "Symphony of Silence" hopes to make no

[MosJan]

Feted Film: "Symphony of Silence" hopes to make noise at Oscars

 

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By Gayane Abrahamian

ArmeniaWeek reporter

Very few movies have been shot in Armenia in the past several years due to difficult socio-economic conditions. Some Armenian filmmakers, however, have continued their art in spite of obstacles.

 

And one, Vigen Chaldranian, is in with a chance to win filmmaking's highest prize, an Oscar, for his persistence.

 

"Symphony of Silence," a feature film, directed by Chaldranian and shot in Armenia has been selected as a nominee for competition in the 74th American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences "Academy Awards".

 

It is the first time an Armenian-made movie has been accepted by the prestigious board. Winners will be announced during ceremonies next spring in Los Angeles.

 

Chaldranian's movie premiered in Hollywood's Samuel Goldwyn Theater on October 12, after which it was included in next year's list of nominees in the category of Best Foreign Language Film. (Seventy-eight films are selected for the category.)

 

Chaldranian is the writer/director of several movies, including "April", "Dzain Barbaroi", and "Ter Voghormea", which was awarded a gold medal at the Houston International Film Festival in 1994.

 

The script for "Symphony of Silence" started as an idea in 1998 and took about seven months to write. Filming took about a year, ending in late 2000.

 

"It is not surprising that the movie got its final shape at the end of the century," Chaldranian says, "because the main idea of the movie is the one we are entering the 21st century with."

 

"Symphony of Silence" is the story of a 47-year-old man whose life decelerates and takes a dramatic and unexpected twist toward a tragic end. He has an incurable illness and, realizing that death is unavoidable, he turns to the Biblical Ten Commandments.

 

Finding himself in Yerevan with little time and a big bank account, he becomes sole owner of a hospital for the insane. Devoting himself entirely to this strange, new vocation, he sets out to redeem his sins by spreading light around himself and into the troubled souls of the patients.

 

"This movie is a catharsis, meaning that it causes psychological self-cleaning," says Tsolak Hakobian," a psychotherapist and consultant for the movie.

 

"Violent emotions start in the souls of people after they watch the movie. People start to realize their own sins."

 

"Symphony of Silence" is an expression of human virtue, humanity and love, pursuing the universal questions: Who are we? Where did we come from? Where do we go?

 

"This movie is about humanity and kindness," says lead actor Karen Janibekian. "Kindness and light are the pledge of success for this movie."

 

The main cast is from Armenia but Chaldranian was also able to persuade Polish actress Barbara Brilska to take a part.

 

"Symphony of Silence" cost $500,000 to make and was produced by Chaldranian, Armenfilm Studios, Boomerang Productions (France), and Ardshinbank.

 

"The value of the movie won't be lost whether we win or lose (an Academy Award)," Chaldranian says. "Life is an argument of tastes."