Film: Disaster film "Spitak" wins top prize at int’l film festival in Russia

Panorama, Armenia
Feb 11 2019

“Spitak” drama, which centers on the catastrophic earthquake that shook Armenia on 7 December 1988, won the top prize at the “17 Moments” Third International Film Festival named after famous Soviet Russian actor Vyacheslav Tikhonov held in Russia from 6 to 10 February.

Directed by Russian filmmaker Alexander Kott, the film also won awards for best director and best composer, TASS reported.

World-famous Armenian-American singer-songwriter Serj Tankian composed the score for the film. 

The drama’s screenwriter is Marina Sochinskaya, cameraman – Pyotr Dukhovskoy, composer – Karen Margaryan, producers – Elena Glikman and Theresa Varzhapetyan.

A joint production of Armenia and Russia, the film tells the story of Gor, who left Armenia in search of a better life but now returns back after the earthquake in order to find his home and family. But it is too late. Everything is destroyed by the disaster, and he has to re-learn to love what he destroyed himself.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS