Atom Egoyan's "Ararat", my fourth film from the auteur is a very well-written, well-acted film detailing the Armenian Genocide from different perspectives. Raffi (David Alpay) is the son of art historian and expert on Arshille Gorky, Ani, played by Arsinee Khanjian. He is sleeping with his stepsister and is stopped by a Canadian customers officer David(Christopher Plummer) coming back from a trip to Turkey with a film can, although not wanting to show the contacts of the case.
Edward Saroyan (Charles Aznavour) is making a film about the genocide. Plummer's son Martin (Bruce Greenwood) is playing the main role in Aznavour's films, which also features his lover Ali (Elias Koteas). Another man, Rouben (Eric Bognosian) acts as the middle man between Khanjian and Aznavour.
The film features a great many of Egoyan's troupe of actors (wife Khanjian, Bruce Greenwood, Elias Koteas) and has a large number of themes from his other films (customs officers, incestual relationships, heritage), but conveys it poorly in comparison to his earlier films. In his earlier films, he focused on character's motivations and enigmatic plots. Now he seems to focus on religion and heritage, which I suppose is the kind of film he wants to make. I personally prefer his earlier puzzle films myself ("The Adjuster" and "Exotica" being prime examples).
The acting is very good. Khanjian is good in every role she's done and you never think she got the role just because she's married to Egoyan. Bruce Greenwood and Elias Koteas (who played nemesis' in "Exotica") make great lovers. Christopher Plummer carries a strong presence and a contrast to the other characters in his role. Alpay conveys youth and innocence very well, as well as hiscestuous relationship with Celia (Maria-Josee Croze).
Overall, a well-done film, but don't expect anything close to his earlier films. 7/10
Edward Saroyan (Charles Aznavour) is making a film about the genocide. Plummer's son Martin (Bruce Greenwood) is playing the main role in Aznavour's films, which also features his lover Ali (Elias Koteas). Another man, Rouben (Eric Bognosian) acts as the middle man between Khanjian and Aznavour.
The film features a great many of Egoyan's troupe of actors (wife Khanjian, Bruce Greenwood, Elias Koteas) and has a large number of themes from his other films (customs officers, incestual relationships, heritage), but conveys it poorly in comparison to his earlier films. In his earlier films, he focused on character's motivations and enigmatic plots. Now he seems to focus on religion and heritage, which I suppose is the kind of film he wants to make. I personally prefer his earlier puzzle films myself ("The Adjuster" and "Exotica" being prime examples).
The acting is very good. Khanjian is good in every role she's done and you never think she got the role just because she's married to Egoyan. Bruce Greenwood and Elias Koteas (who played nemesis' in "Exotica") make great lovers. Christopher Plummer carries a strong presence and a contrast to the other characters in his role. Alpay conveys youth and innocence very well, as well as hiscestuous relationship with Celia (Maria-Josee Croze).
Overall, a well-done film, but don't expect anything close to his earlier films. 7/10