History Film / Ararat

''Ararat'' is a 2002 film directed, written, and co-produced by Creator/AtomEgoyan. The film is based around an Armenian-Canadian director named Edward Saroyan attempting to make a {{Biopic}} about the life of Armenian abstract artist Arshille Gorky, a survivor of UsefulNotes/{{the Armenian Genocide}}, including scenes from the 1915 Siege of Van. This stirs controversy because the historical events are contested by modern Turkey; for example, a Turkish-Canadian actor becomes increasingly uncomfortable with playing the role of an evil Turkish military officer in Saroyan's film.

* ProsceniumReveal: See above.

* TheSiege
* WouldBeRudeToSayGenocide: The Turkish actor playing Jevdet Bey, portrayed in the film as a monster, begins having doubts that the genocide occurred.
** Unfortunately, making an actual film like Saroyan is trying to make in RealLife would be difficult due to this trope. Egoyan barely got away with it, mostly because it's an independent film, made in Canada where the genocide has been recognized. In fact the next major film to cover the subject, ''Film/ThePromise2016'', was only produced because of Kirk Kerkorian, an Armenian-American who was wealthy enough to actually overcome Turkey's obstacles and not to be effected too badly when the film under-performed due in part to their meddling. When this film was screened in Turkey all references to the word "genocide", as well as several scenes depicting massacres, were edited out.

''Ararat'' is a 2002 film directed, written, and co-produced by Creator/AtomEgoyan. The film is based around an Armenian-Canadian director named Edward Saroyan attempting to make a {{Biopic}} about the life of Armenian abstract artist Arshille Gorky, a survivor of UsefulNotes/TheArmenianGenocide, including scenes from the 1915 Siege of Van. This stirs controversy because the historical events are contested by modern Turkey; for example, a Turkish-Canadian actor becomes increasingly uncomfortable with playing the role of an evil Turkish military officer in Saroyan's film.

''Ararat'' is a 2002 film directed, written, and co-produced by Creator/AtomEgoyan. The film is based around an Armenian-Canadian director named Edward Saroyan attempting to make a {{Biopic}} about the life of Armenian abstract artist Arshille Gorky, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, including scenes from the 1915 Siege of Van. This stirs controversy because the historical events are contested by modern Turkey; for example, a Turkish-Canadian actor becomes increasingly uncomfortable with playing the role of an evil Turkish military officer in Saroyan's film.

* BrotherSisterIncest: Raffi carries out an affair with his step-sister Celia.

* YouFailGeographyForever/ EiffelTowerEffect: In-universe example; someone points out to Saroyan while he's filming that you wouldn't actually be able to see Mt. Ararat from the city of Van (while Saroyan's film has Mt. Ararat as a backdrop). Saroyan decided to keep it in anyway for the effect.

** Unfortunately, making an actual film like Saroyan is trying to make in RealLife would be difficult due to this trope. Egoyan barely got away with it, mostly because it's an independent film, made in Canada where the genocide has been recognized. In fact the next major film to cover the subject. ''Film/ThePromise2016'',was only produced because of Kirk Kerkorian, an Armenian-American who was wealthy enough to actually overcome Turkey's obstacles and not to be effected too badly when the film under-performed due in part to their meddling. When this film was screened in Turkey all references to the word "genocide", as well as several scenes depicting massacres, were edited out.

* AgonyOfTheFeet: A particularly cringe-worthy instance of this trope occurs in the movie-within-a-movie, as Jevdet Bey sentences Arshille Gorky's little brother to have nails driven through his feet. It's only done as a ScreamDiscretionShot though.

** Unfortunately, making an actual film like Saroyan is trying to make in RealLife would be difficult due to this trope. Egoyan barely got away with it, mostly because it's an independent film, made in Canada where the genocide has been recognized. When the film was screened in Turkey all references to the word "genocide", as well as several scenes depicting massacres, were edited out.

There are also a number of secondary plots. One involves the relationship between Ani, an art historian and expert on Gorky and adviser on Saroyan's fictional film, and her son Raffi. Another features Raffi and a Canadian customs official, David (played by Christopher Plummer), who interrogates Raffi for smuggling film footage of ruined Armenian churches from Turkey needed for Saroyan's movie.

** Unfortunately, making an actual film like Saroyan is trying to make in RealLife would be difficult due to this trope. Egoyan barely got away with it, mostly because it's an independent film, made in Canada where the genocide has been recognized.

''Ararat'' is a 2002 film directed, written, and co-produced by AtomEgoyan. The film is based around an Armenian-Canadian director named Edward Saroyan attempting to make a {{Biopic}} about the life of Armenian abstract artist Arshille Gorky, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, including scenes from the 1915 Siege of Van. This stirs controversy because the historical events are contested by modern Turkey; for example, a Turkish-Canadian actor becomes increasingly uncomfortable with playing the role of an evil Turkish military officer in Saroyan's film.