Armenia is nestled atop a mountain range in the South Caucasus region, between Europe and Asia. It is no wonder that the country has been referred to, since ancient times, as an “inaccessible fortress”. With 90% of its territory rising above 1000 meters, Armenia’s mountainous terrain can be both awe-inspiring and treacherous.
December 7th 1988 was a day that changed the lives of many Armenians forever. In just eight devastating seconds, an 8.2 magnitude earthquake shook the country, destroying entire villages and claiming the lives of more than 30,000 people. Despite this disaster – which remains one of the deadliest earthquakes in recent history – some residents chose to stay in their homeland instead of leaving for other countries. Arman, 32 years old at the time, and his father were among those who chose to remain in Armenia. At the time of the earthquake their village had a population of 1,000 inhabitants; today it stands at less than half that number.
The Armenian earthquake serves as both a reminder of human resilience and tragedy; these themes are explored in depth by film director Armen Khachatryan in his documentary “Arman”. This film follows Arman’s journey as he returns to his hometown nearly thirty years after that fateful day. He speaks with survivors and recounts their experiences living through one of history’s greatest tragedies. The audience will gain insight into how communities pulled together during this difficult time but also discover what remains lost from before the quake struck Armenia so violently all those years ago.
Watching Armen Khachatryan’s documentry allows viewers to reflect on how far Armenia has come since 1988 and appreciate its indomitable spirit even amidst such deep pain and grief. For those looking to learn more about this fascinating nation – its past, present and future – “Arman” is a must-see documentary not to be missed!
