Ahead of Armenia’s Independence Day, the Renaissance Foundation presented its new musical film “Vardanank: From Victory to Our Days” on the Good Morning program of Armenia TV. The film will premiere on September 21 at 9:40 PM on Armenia TV. The project is directed by Vahe Yan, with musical performances by the Taluys Choir.
Producer of the choir, Tovmas Arakelyan, spoke about the idea and implementation of the film.
“We have been following the activities of the ‘Renaissance’ Foundation for a long time and admire Artur Janibekyan’s initiatives. It was clear that such a project was in line with the ideology and value system of this foundation. We implemented this project through the head of the initiative, Artak Aleksanyan. We also met with the director Vahe Yan.”
Tovmas Arakelyan said that the Vardanants theme has always been one of the most discussed historical topics, especially the character of Vasak.
“You can’t be careless with national symbols. ‘Taluys’ presents Vardanants’ victory as a moral victory. After all, defeats usually occur in the field of morality and immorality. Therefore, I really wanted children to be the speakers of these ideas. When ideas meet their patrons, in the person of the ‘Renaissance’ Foundation, they turn into such an important initiative. We did the project because we need to remember our victories so that we don’t break, but it is also for the future victories that will happen. Years ago, the founder of the choir, Archbishop Bagrat, erected a khachkar, it is the only one dedicated to future victories. We believe in it. That is why the film is called “Vardanank: From Victory to Our Days”. We live in difficult times, but I believe that even in this contradiction, a hardened generation is being raised, which cannot be frightened by anything.”
Maria Galstyan, artistic director and conductor of the Taluys choir, believes that preserving spiritual, martial, national songs, and art is also a security issue. Maria Galstyan said that victories are very important in the value system of the Taluys choir, which is why they decided to film this historical song.
“The program includes one spiritual martial song, one historical song, and one academic singing composition. The first song is Ghevond Alishan’s “Plpuln Avarayri”, the second is Nerses Shnorhali’s “Norahrash Psakavork” and the third is “Yerkir Hayrenin”. The Taluys choir performs spiritual and secular songs in parallel, so any new work is interesting for children, because we always do a lot of research work: they not only learn the songs, but also study the author, the era and history. For example, when opening the headings of the first lines of Shnorhali’s song, we get “Song of Nerses”. In the first stanza, Vardan is described, and in the 10th stanza, Shnorhali glorifies the connection between the church and the state. This also has educational, pedagogical significance.”
The film was shot at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts and in the Tavush region.
The film is directed by Vahe Yan. The joint projects of Vahe Yan and the Renaissance Foundation began with the film “Tagh. The Path of the Soul”.
“All the projects that we do with the foundation are important for the strength of the nation. This musical film is very important, because we are depressed, we are broken. Our society is still in shock, we must remember our heroes, our victories. I think that today the Armenian nation is not inert and indifferent, but we are still in shock, such works have a sobering effect, they say: wake up, remember your life.”
The main directorial idea of the film, according to Vahe Yan, is the harmony of the songs and the film.
“For filming, we chose picturesque places dedicated to our faith and church, they best reflect that connection. I really wanted the children to be on the rocks, in high places, while singing about the homeland. We shot three videos for three songs. In addition, Tovmas Arakelyan makes comments, introduces the songs. In this case, the words and songs had to be in harmony so that the film could be viewed as one work, in one breath. 27 children were filmed in the film, I was terrified at first, I thought that after three or four hours they would get tired and complain. But they have a steely will and discipline.”
According to Vahe Yan, the Renaissance Foundation is a pioneer in the struggle for national preservation. All the Foundation’s projects struggle at a high ideological level. According to the director, the lower level of the struggle is tanks and war, and the most important and upper level is the spiritual faith and idea of the nation, which the enemy wants to kill. The film “Vardanank: From Victory to Our Days” is one of the steps that preserves that faith and idea.