The life of Aurora Mardiganian, survivor of the Armenian Genocide, is the subject of this poignant animated film.
You could say that “Aurora’s Sunrise” is a documentary in which filmmaker Inna Sahakyan uses animation but also archival footage to follow the extraordinary and unfortunately little-known life of Aurora Mardiganian.
The life of Aurora Mardiganian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, is the subject of Aurora’s Sunrise. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BARS MEDIAS
The young woman was the heroine of Auction of Souls, a 1919 silent film, but the work disappeared and only 18 minutes were found in 1994, shortly after Aurora Mardiganian’s death. These images are integrated into the animation – not to mention an interview from 1984 – and allow us to reconstruct as faithfully as possible the significant events of his extraordinary existence.
Aurora was only 14 years old when the Turks decimated, kidnapped and sold her family. She eventually managed to get to the United States, where she was exploited by a journalist and Hollywood producer while searching for her brother.
Armenia’s decision to represent it at the 2022 Oscars and open the opening film of the 20th Montreal Animated Cinema Summit, “Aurora’s Sunrise,” is an unusual work.
SCREENSHOT BY BARS MEDIAS
Filmmaker Inna Sahakyan opts for gentle visual animation, similar to a drawing, to better convey the teenager’s horrors than the young woman’s. Without ever interrupting the narrative rhythm, the director integrates powerful images from the 1919 film and moving moments from the interview with Aurora Mardiganian. We are deeply shocked and welcome this initiative to ensure that Aurora will never be forgotten.
Aurora’s Sunrise will be presented on the screens of the Cinémathèque québécoise from September 1st.
Rating: 4 out of 5