Language: Italian
Program: Cinema of the world (COW)
Director: Paolo Taviani
Length: 2007,117 mins,35mm,Colour
Producer: Grazia Volpi
Presented by: Ager 3 e Rai Cinema
Screenplay: Paolo Taviani, Vittorio Taviani
Cinematography: Beppe Lanci
Editing: Roberto Perpignani
Music: Giuliano Taviani, CAM
Set Design: Andrea Crisanti
Costume Design: Lina Nerli Taviani
Production: Ager 3, supported by MiBAC,
In collaboration with: Rai Cinema & Eagle Pictures
Coproduction: Nimar Studios (Sofia)Sagrera Tv, TVE (Madrid), Flach Film, France 2 Cinema, Canal+, 27 Films Production, Ard Degeto (Paris)
Supported: Euroimages
Cast: Paz Vega, Moritz Bleibtreu,Angela Molina, Alessandro Preziosi, Mohamed Bakri, Tcheky Karyo, Mariano Rigillo, Hristo Shopov, Christo Jivkov, Ubaldo Lo Presti, Nicolo' Diana, Yvonne Scio, Arsinee Khanjian, Andre Dussollier
Distributor: 01 Distribution
World sales: Rai Trade
Release date: 23-03-2007
Awards And Participation: Berlinale Special, 2007
Synopsis: The Avakians are a rich Armenian family. Two family members are Aram, a land-owner living in a small town in Turkey, and Assadour, a successful doctor from Venice. The brothers have not seen each other for a long time and decide to meet in Armenia. While Assadour prepares himself for his trip to his native land, the Armenian part of the family starts preparing the old family seat for their visitors from abroad. They set to work painting, joining and repairing, and even construct a tennis court for the Italians. Meanwhile, the political situation has grown more acute. Since coming to power in 1913, the government of Young Turks has made it their goal to create one vast Turkish empire; in 1915, Italy and France enter into an alliance against Turkey and Austria. Assadour is still hoping in vain to be able to travel from Italy to his homeland when all hell breaks loose in Armenia. The Young Turks order the massacre of the Armenian people. Aram and his family are discovered in their hiding place. The men are murdered and the women are forcibly deported. Their march will surely mean their death. However, the Avakian women have a protector – Aram's daughter, Nunik, falls in love with one of the Turkish officers, Vittorio Tavianiwho sees to it that Nunik and her family are not subjected to any more suffering. But the women are by no means in safety yet.
