As the Academy Awards near — yes, it’s September but we all know that means we are officially in awards season — countries all over the world have begun to name their official submissions for the Best International Feature Film Oscar. Now, we would like to showcase the trailer for Armenia’s selection last year, the animated documentary Aurora’s Sunrise.
As per the official press release, Aurora’s Sunrise has the following synopsis: “In 1915, as WWI raged on, the Ottoman Empire singled out its entire Armenian population for destruction. Only 14 years old at the time, Aurora Mardiganian’s story was tragically relatable. Forced onto a death march towards the Syrian desert, she lost her entire family before being kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery. Four years later, through luck and extraordinary courage, she escaped to New York, where her story became a media sensation.”
Armenia has yet to have a movie nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. But it hasn’t been for a lack of trying, as the country has been submitting films for consideration since the early 1990s. Its first, 1991’s The Voice in the Wilderness, was disqualified for not meeting necessary requirements, as was 2015’s Earthquake. Other Armenian films to be submitted include 2001’s Symphony of Silence, 2020’s Songs of Solomon and their choice for this upcoming ceremony, Amerikatsi. This is most unfortunate, as Armenia has so much culture to share and be discovered by western audiences. Despite the lack of success in that category, it’s worth noting that the first Armenian citizen to earn the country an Oscar was William Saroyan, who won Best Story for 1943’s The Human Comedy, based on his novel.
Aurora’s Sunrise may have missed out on an Oscar nomination but it has been acclaimed all over the world. The film has been singled out as an animated, documentary and overall film in countries ranging from Australia to Spain to Switzerland. Although the release has been limited, undoubtedly the film will be one to keep an eye out for.
What do you think of the trailer for Aurora’s Sunrise? Have you had a chance to see the film yet? Give us your opinion in the comments section below.
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