“I love Armenia and I feel it is my country”

According to him, this feeling towards Armenia came after his first visit to this country, when he felt the sincere connection of the Armenian people, he found friends among artists and ordinary people. “It came about because of the commonality I found. In the past few years, the issue of the Artsakh war and the recent events have forced me and other Iranians to pay attention to the behavior of the governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan towards the Armenian people. This director, who makes documentaries and writes articles about Armenians in Iran, says: Iranian people, politicians and public figures are putting pressure on the government to prevent the invasion or occupation of Armenian lands.
I met a man from Isfahan when I was a teenager. When he talks about himself and his city, he also talks about his Armenian friends and neighbors. He explained the things I had heard for the first time about the religion and culture of the Armenians of Isfahan.
While studying at Tabriz University, he met Marousia Vahramian, one of the most famous Armenian actresses in Tabriz and Iran. Navid decided to make a documentary film about his life and also to recreate the last play he staged a few years ago.
The script of the play I wrote inspired him, I felt this performance was a debt to the culture, history and art of Armenia. This play was called “Komitas” and as its name suggests, it tells the life of a famous Armenian composer who, as you know, witnessed the Armenian Genocide. Noting that Maros was 94 years old, Navid said, “Marousi Vahramian’s perspective on this matter, his devotion to Armenian art and society, the issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the last meeting of his group – all this attracted me.”
We tried to create conditions for Murusia to start her work, but unfortunately, after the first filming, due to the death of Murusia’s younger sister and her illness, as well as other problems that arose within the group, the group did it. It doesn’t quite add up. I tried to fulfill his last wish, to see the old building belonging to the Armenian community that was once a school and art space. Fortunately, this happened and he saw that house and his wish became one of the important events of the film. And then Marussia died. In fact, this is what sparked my interest in Armenian and Christian art. After that, I tried to continue my activity in this field.
He expressed his hope that peace and security will prevail in Armenia, because this is more important to him than making a film. I have been planning to shoot in Armenia for years. As I do not currently have such a situation as an independent director, I only hope to find financial support in the future.
In short, I miss Armenia and my good friends, I wish peace and happiness for its cultured and kind people. I hope there will be an opportunity and I will participate in the “Golden Apricot” film festival in Yerevan again.