Ararat, movie, image
Image from Ararat courtesy of Alliance Films.

115 minutes – Drama
Release date: November 12, 2002
DVD release date: August 12, 2003
Canadian distributor: Alliance Films

Ararat uses the device of a film-within-a-film to tell its story. In this case, while supposedly showing the story of the production of an epic film about the Armenian Genocide of 1915, Ararat remains a contemporary story that explores the quest for personal, sexual and cultural identity through the intimate moments shared by lovers, strangers and families. Ararat interweaves scenes of history in the making with scenes depicting the effects of history on modern culture. The story line follows how making the film transforms the life of an 18-year-old man, Raffi, played by new comer, David Alpay, after he is hired as a driver on the production. Shooting began in Toronto on Monday, May 21, 2001. In addition to some sound stage work, the production essentially shot the film on location for the first eight weeks of the schedule. The final week of filming took place in and around the Drumheller, Alberta area, where over 500 local extras were recruited to help re-create the disturbing desert death marches. At the 2003 Genie Awards, Ararat picked up a total of five awards, including Best Picture.

Also see: Atom Egoyan Returns Home with Ararat.

Ararat, movie, poster,

Crew:

Producer:

Atom Egoyan
Robert Lantos

Executive Producer:

Mark Musselman

Co-Producer:

Sandra Cunningham

Associate Producer:

Julia Rosenberg
Simone Urdu

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Screenwriter:

Atom Egoyan

Cinematographer:

Paul Sarossy

Editor:

Susan Shipton

Composer:

Mychael Danna

Production Designer:

Phillip Barker

Art Director:

Kathleen Climie
Patricia Cuccia (Set Decoration)

Costume Designer:

Beth Pasternak

Cast: Roles:

David Alpay
Charles Aznavour
Eric Bogosian
Brent Carver
Marie-Josée Croze
Bruce Greenwood
Arsinée Khanjian
Elias Koteas
Christopher Plummer
Simon Abkarian
Raoul Bheneja

Raffi
Edward Saroyan
Rouben
Phillip
Celia
Martin / Clarence Ussher
Ani
Ali / Jevdet Bey
David
Arshile Gorky
The Photographer