Embers (Embers)
Arab Feature Film Competition
Tamara Stepanyan / Feature Documentary / Armenia, Lebanon, Qatar / 2012 / 77 min / Colour / HDCAM
In Armenian, Russian / Arabic, English subtitles
Interests: Documentary, Politics, Based on a True Story
MENA Premiere
Rated: Parental guidance is advised for viewers under the age of 13. Individuals under the age of 13 are not admitted into cinemas unless accompanied by an individual aged 18 or older.
Synopsis
With ‘Embers’, Tamara Stepanyan’s first feature-length documentary, the director seeks to honour the memory of her late grandmother, whom she was named after. Stepanyan visits the elder Tamara’s hometown in Armenia, where she spends time with her grandmother’s circle of friends, who discuss their memories of daily life with Tamara, bringing to light their ideological and political viewpoints in the process. As the conversations progress, a dialogue emerges between past and present – between the Tamara of today and the Tamara of two generations ago, whose life was shaped by her experiences during World War II. Despite the absence of the film’s central subject, her presence is deeply felt through her impact on those who survive her. Stepanyan’s mourning the loss of someone close to her heart is acutely apparent; here, she faces down that sorrow with a bright tribute to a wonderful woman.
About the Directors
Tamara Stepanyan was born in Armenia but moved to Lebanon when she was 12. Works include the video installation ‘My Beirut’ (2009) and ‘Little Stories’ (2010), which screened at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen. She is no stranger to Doha: in 2011, her short essay film ‘February 19’ received a post-production grant from DFI.
Credits
- Director
- Tamara Stepanyan
- Screenwriter
- Tamara Stepanyan
- Producer
- Michele Tyan, Tamara Stepanyan
- Editor
- Farah Fayed, Michele Tyan
- Music
- Cynthia Zaven, Narine Harutyunyan
- Cinematographer
- Tamara Stepanyan , Tammam Hamza
- Sound
- Raed Younnan
- Cast
- Keti Khatchatryna, Grigor Altunyan, Tamara Hakopyan