MidNight FistFight: Exploring the World of Armenian Zhamos

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ianyan Magazine

Aug 10 2012

 

 

MidNight FistFight: Exploring the World of Armenian Zhamos

Culture Vulture - By Liana Aghajanian

 

 

In the underbelly of Armenian culture, lies the `zhamo,' a meeting

between men set up to settle differences, but one that's expected to

erupt in violence instead.

 

MidNight FistFight, a new short film produced and directed by Robert

Nazar Arjoyan and co-written with David Lafian, aims to explore this

`Armenian version of an English duel' as Arjoyan notes but also offers

a front seat into the life of the often troubled Armenian alpha-male.

 

The story centers around Gev (David Lafian), who, still reeling from

the loss of his mother, channels his grief into violence and rage,

while his sister Alina (Lena Kay) is forced to take on their mother's

role, at the risk of impacting her relationship with her long-time

boyfriend, Alec ( Movses Karapetyan).

 

When Alec and Gev are forced to participate in a `zhamo,' they must

put their differences aside. But will they survive the night?

 

Arjoyan, who pulled the idea for the film from personal experience,

wanted to drive home the fact that zhamos are a pretty terrible way to

deal with problems.

 

After reaching his monetary goal on the crowd-funding site KickStarter

back in February, Arjoyan set out to raise the remaining funds needed

independently. He perfectly summed up the etymology and meaning of

what a `zhamo' entails:

 

 

Also known as a razbirat, a zhamo is a ritualistic meeting conducted

by predominantly Armenian males at a specifically set time. Meetings

generally take place, at night and in an isolated location, in order

to solve a dispute amongst individuals or whole groups, be they

problems of verbal abuse, physical and/or bodily harm, or matters of

pride. The word zhamo is derived from the Armenian zham, which

literally means `hour.' : We have to go to a zhamo with the guys

tonight.

 

Of course, fact mirrors fiction, as the practice of the `zhamo' is not

uncommon today, especially among Armenian Diasporan youth in the Los

Angles area. In 2009, 19-year-old Mike Yepremyan was shot and killed

during a similar meet up over a text message.

 

While exploring the often tense relationships between the characters,

Arjoyan wanted to depict the illogical concept of the `zhamo,' which

he says is an over exaggerated defense mechanism due to centuries of

tragic history.

 

`We've constantly been battered and beaten, and we've had to build

this callous skin,' he told ianyanmag. `But inside we're sad. It's

also super subconscious, too.'

 

The film, which is currently being submitted to festivals, also

explores the overarching `machismo' that dominates many aspects of

patriarchal Armenian culture, an issue which Arjoyan said he thinks

will be eradicated after a few generations.

 

MidNight FistFight premieres tomorrow night (August 11) in Los Angeles

at the Downtown Independent at 8 p.m.

 

Watch the trailer below

 

http://www.ianyanmag.com/2012/08/10/midnight-fistfight-exploring-the-world-of-armenian-zhamos/