There was and there was no review – How four women’s dreams were shattered by the trauma of war | film

WWith a title taken from the traditional opening phrase of Armenian fairy tales, Emily Mkrtchyan’s debut nods to the impermanence of life itself. Filmed in the now-defunct Republic of Artsakh, the film follows four extraordinary women who find their hopes and ambitions cruelly derailed by war. The breakaway state was formed in 1991, after decades of political discrimination under the Soviet Union and military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For the majority Armenian population here, their peace has always been threatened.

The personal journeys of Mkrtchyan’s subjects seem all the more fascinating in the face of these doubts. A judo champion, Souss aspires to represent her country in the Olympics. Seranush campaigns to be on the city council. Jayne runs a support group for women. For those living in Artsakh, memories of the last war are more than just a ghost; While working as a bomb disposal worker, Sveta defuses mines still lying in the green landscape. Although their professions are different, they are all committed to improving the community, which is a testament to the strong cultural connections that exist here.

Captured with dynamism and intimacy, their individual stories collide when war breaks out in 2020. As the Azerbaijani army approaches, the women’s daily lives are disrupted by the sounds of sirens, and even explosions. Jayan and her family were displaced; They now live in Armenia as refugees. Tragically, Seuss has to put her athletic career on hold when she joins the army. In contrast to an earlier scene, where the young woman is teaching judo to a class of children, she is now seen teaching a group of women how to assemble weapons. With such burdens on their shoulders, it is a tragedy that Gayan and the rest of her community have to leave their dreams behind.