The Armenians: A Story of Survival (History Channel Documentary)

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Audience Rating: G (General Audience) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 0071896487503 Publication Date: 2002
Editorial Reviews: In 301 A.D. Armenia became the first nation on earth to adopt Christianity. This documentary explores the journey and struggle of the Armenia people - from their humble beginnings near the Middle East where they were identified only by their different language, through their Christian conversion in 301; from countless wars to defend their faith, to domination by numerous empires. And finally from their near elimination during the first Genocide of the 20th century to the birth of the Armenian nation. Narrated by Olympia Dukakis, this show includes interviews with such scholars and writers as Elie Wiesel (Nobel Peace Prize laureate), Dr. Robert J. Lifton (author of The Nazi Doctors) and Peter Balakin (author of Black Dog of Fate). In addition, the Head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Karekin II, and the President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian are also interviewed. Shot in twelve countries from Azerbaijan to Iran to the U.S., the show details Armenian identity and language; Armenian's war with neighboring Azerbaijan over the disputed Karabagh region; a close look at the Armenian Genocide; a survey of the Armenian Diaspora; and a look from present to future.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: A primer, but not definitive by any means. Comment: The Conflict that decimated the manhood in both Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno Karabagh (early to mid 90's), was of crucial importance to Armenia's survival, profoundly affecting the outlook of the Armenian Diaspora as well. The sheer brutality of modern 'ethnic conflicts' in the former Soviet Empire reminded us that past fears and events still weighed heavily into the actions of the present. Yet, this film, which claims to tell the story of the Armenians, fails to grasp that, washing the topic aside in an effort to remain 'neutral' and delivers a disappointing resolution to its thesis. Some of the interviews fare better, collecting a number of celebrities and writers on the same tape. The quality of the production is average, on par with other middle-tier productions normally acquired by the History Channel, but if the premise of the documentary is correct, that the Armenians have endured beyond all odds, then they probably deserve a bit more than the banal. More Reviews