2004_12 Hye Sharzhoom Newspaper December 2004

              December 2004
Hye Sharzhoom
7
2004 Annual Fund Donors
Benefactors
George & Karen Daoudian
Berberian & Gazarian Family
Foundation
Dianne & Arnold Gazarian
Patrons
Bob Der Mugrdechian
Walter Karabian
Friends
Lena & Varouj Altebarmakian
Tarjian & Harriet Bedoian
National Raisin Company
The Bedrosian Family
Sponsors
Nerces Leon Dermenjian
Leo Keoshian, M. D.
Brian & Janalee Melikian
Kirk & Kathy Yergat
Supporters
Richard & Karen Adrouny
Edward Alexander
Lorraine Amman
Janice & Barr Andreasian
Nevart Apikian
Vera Atamian
Armen C. Avakian
Arten J. Avakian
Albert Avedikian
Mugurdich Balabanian
Alice Knar Barter-Baird
Jack & Alberta Bedoian
George & Gail Bedrosian
Mrs. Anne F. Boghosian
Mark Bohigian
Martin & Barbara Bohigian
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Bousian
Tom Bozigian
Emma Bozmagian
Antranig Chalabian
Glen Chesnut & Ellen Sarkisian-
Chesnut
Carolyn Chooljian
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Chooljian
Leland G. & Ollie G.Collins
Dr. Earlene Craver
Harry Donobedian
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Dorian
Dr. H. Doumanian
Dick Dulgarian
Manhattan Village
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen T. Dulgarian
Jack Emerian
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Emirhanian
Gloria Erganian
Don Eskender
Ron Gajarian
Aram & Barbara Garabedian
Deborah Garabedian
Hirma Garabedian
John Garabedian
Rutherford B. Gaston
Michael Gorjian
Gottschalks
Seb Gunner
Raffi Haddad & Family
George D. Hagopian
Samuel & Barbara Hagopian
Vicki Haig-Takeda
Dr. Juliet Hananian
Carol A. Harootian
Ms. Araxie M. Haroutinian
Kenneth K Hekimian
Miss Dickie Hovsepian
A.  A.     Howsepian & B. A.
Howsepian
Paul Jamushian
Helen Jarahian
Dr. & Mrs. Matthew A. Jendian
Alice A. Kalustian
In memory of Mark A. Kalustian
Hagop Karakashian
Zepur Karkazian
Dr. & Mrs. J. P. Kassabian
Grace Kazarian
Marguerite Kazarian
"That's Armenia"-Armenian Films
John Moses
Special to Hye Sharzhoom
Midway through VodkaEemon,
a character asks the barkeep of a
remote outdoor stand why the concoction that gives the bar its name
is called "lemon" when "it tastes
like almonds." "That's Armenia"
comes the answer, with a knowing
shrug. Vodka Lemon is filled with
such moments of deadpan humor,
though its absurdist perspective is
tempered by genuine sympathy for
the characters' impoverishment as
well as their need for companionship and love.
In addition to its own unmistakable merits, Vodka Lemon offers
U.S. audiences a rare glimpse of
contemporary Armenia in a feature film. During the seven decades of Soviet rule, the centralized Armenian film industry seldom reachedforeignaudiences, and
economic instability since the
country's independence has curtailed the expected output from
privatized studios.
More num. erous by far have been
films from the Armenian disapora,
with Sergei Paradjanov (1924-90)
and Atom Egoyan (b. 1960) garnering the mostattenti on, andjustly
so. Whether we recall the ravishing i coni c tabl eaus of Paradj anov' s
The Color of Pomegranates (1969)
or the complexly structured meditation on the Armenian holocaust
in Egoy an's Ararat (2002), we have
before us world directors of the
highest order.
Ironically, VodkaEemon, filmed
on location with the participation
of an independent Armenian film
company, is itself a product of exile. Writer-director Hiner Saleem
is an Iraqi Kurd living in Paris,
who returned to Armenia for this,
his second film in the country. "I
consider all Armenians to be magicians," he explains in the film's
pressbook, "as I don't understand
how they succeed in surviving. I
gather they don't understand it either. They face life with a continual optimism.
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That same optimism in the face
of catastrophic misfortunes can be
seen in another recent film from
Armenia, Merry Bus (2001), directed by Albert Mkrtchyan. Set
after the 1988 earthquake that devastated the country, the film follows
characters rebuilding their shattered
lives: an orphan boy insisting he be
adopted by a middle-aged woman
still mourning the deaths of her husband and child. Not the stuff of
comedy, but a comedy it is. In
surreal moments much like those
from Vodka Lemon, the boy "rings"
church bells that no longer exist; he
and his mother-to-be listen to the
"music" of fall en telephone wires; a
former decathlon athlete rides his
bicycle through several scenes, varying his repeated tale of finishing
second at the Olympics; and a bus,
bursting with weary occupants, lumbers through the streets, those same
occupants giving voice to song in
the final scene.
Merry Bus also illustrates the
difficulties Armenian filmmakers
face in gaining theatrical distribution in the U. S. First shown at the
New York Armenian Film Festival
of 2002, it returned for this year's
program in San Francisco. Sufficiently accomplished to be the centerpiece of two successful festivals
years apart, nonetheless it was ne ver
picked up for a theatrical run in this
country and is unlikely to receive
one now.
Similar obscurity came to the
highly praised Symphony of Silence, directed by Vigen
Chaldranian. Two years ago, the
film was in the running for a Best
Foreign Language Oscar. After
losing its bid for a nomination, it
dropped from sight to await its
release on video.
But the attention given to Armenian cinema may be on the rise.
This past summer, to observe the
80th year of Armenian filmmaking, the first "Golden Apricot" International Film Festival was held
inthe country's capital, Yerevan.
Also celebrated atthe festival was
the 80th anniversary of
Paradjanov's birth; Georgian-born,
he spent his last years living and
working in Armenia.
The release of VodkaEemon in
the U.S., however brief its theatrical run, is another promising sign.
But until we have the opportunity
to see more films from Armenia on
American screens, look for them in
videoatNarek.com, whichhandles
dozens of hard-to-find titles. And
this Spring, be on the lookout for
the sixth Annual Armenian Film
Festival at CSU, Fresno, hosted by
the school's Armenian Studies Program.
Vahram Keosian
Ms. Hermine Keshishyan
Vivian Kessedjian
Bob & Anne Kevorkian
Hapet J. Kharibian
Mr. & Mrs. Aram Khushigian
Anton A. Kismetian
Elizabeth B. Koojoolian
Angele & Dickran Kouymjian
One year remembrance of Leo
Hamalian (1920-2003)
Angele & Dickran Kouymjian
One year remembrance of Aram
Jack Kevorkian (1929-2003)
John Krikorian
Tim Kuckenbaker
Mrs. Jackie Kurkjian
Julie Manoogian
Rosemary Matossian
Armine Meghrouni, MD
(Support ofthe Richard Elbrecht
Photography Project)
Clifford Melikian
Charles & Mary Merzian
Lillian & Moorad Mooradian
Annette & John Moushigian
Richard D. Mushegian
Armenie Najarian
Len Nersesian
Arsine Oshagan
George & Shirley Ouzounian
Stephen & Mariam Ovanessoff
Richard & Vartouhy Pandukht
Gladys K. Peters
Venus & Genese Phillips
Leo & Marlene Pilibosian
Shahen (Sharo) Raissi, MD &
Violet Boodaghians, MD
Art Safarli
Hagop & Helene Sarkissian
Leon A. Saryan
George Sepetjian
Walter Sepetjian
John & Linda Shahbazian
Randy Shahbazian, MD
Dean V. Shahinian
Arminee & Leo Shishmanian
Flo Thomasian Snyder
Mr. Edward Sornigian
Jean D. Terzian
Richard Toukdarian
Martin M. Tourigian
Peter Tozlian
Triple X Fraternity,
Selma Chapter
Mrs. Harold K. Vickery
Rita Vorperian
Mary Wiley
John Yaldezian
Mrs. Dorothy Yazijian
Review-Vodka Lemon
Hakop Tataryan
Editor
To this day, the hardships of
a post-Soviet Armenia haunt the
memories of many. Those who
experienced and struggled those
years have ambivalent feelings
when reminiscing. They recall
the cold weather with no heat and
the struggle for employment, but
at the same time they remember
the beauty of their country, the
togetherness of the people, and
the hope that was in the air.
You will find yourself cuddling
with the person next to you just
to keep warm as Hiner Saleem's
new film "Vodka Lemon," takes
you back on a journey to the days
of post-Soviet Armenia, to a
village that looks to be the
coldest place on earth. The
troubled village is the background for a dark comedy that
will evoke tears. The cast of the
film has good chemistry and the
film seems to flow naturally.
Meet Hamo, a white-bearded
widower whose daily ritual
consists of a visit to his dead
wife's grave for casual chat.
Their conversation consists of
Hamo lamenting about their sons
and the difficulty of life. His
frequent visits are a solace for
Hamo. The hardships of his life
can only be described by comparing them to those of Job.
Meet Nina, a widow who
also visits her dead husband's
gravestone on a regular basis.
One day the paths of these two
meet and they discover how
much they have in common,
including their penniless struggle
for survival, while worrying
about their children.
There are several heartwarming moments as the relationship
between the two develops.
Needless to say, they encounter
many new obstacles in the
process, leaving viewers wondering if they were better off without
each other.
The cold scenery only
accentuates the desperation and
anticipation of Nina, Hamo, and
the rest of their village. It is
interesting watching the family
members bond and develop their
friendships and love for one
another. "Vodka Lemon" is a
terrific film and certainly worth
your while.
The film will be playing only
twice in Fresno, once at 5 pm and
again at 8 pm on Friday, December 3, at the Tower Theater in
Fresno. Tickets are $9 dollars for
the general public and $7 for
seniors and students with ID.
"All Things Armenian"
Every Saturday Afternoon
Noon-1:00PM
90.7 FM
Hosted by Barlow Der Mugrdechian
"Hye Oozh"
Every Saturday Morning
9:00AM-12:00noon
90.7 FM
D. J.s • Sevag Tateosian • Armen Postoyan
• Tatevik Ekezian
On the internet at www.kfsr.org!