Ararat

Name: Ararat
Genre: Drama, War
Released: November 15, 2002
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Brent Carver, Charles Aznavour

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: November 15, 2002 | R

Starring: Brent Carver, Charles Aznavour

Summary: The estranged members of a contemporary Armenian family are faced both with Turkey's denial of their catastrophic past and with their own complicated present. (Miramax)

Director: Atom Egoyan

Genre(s): Drama, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 115 min

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

As ever, Egoyan assembles a devoted repertory cast, including Christopher Plummer. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Until its final moments this almost great movie feels as if it's racing against itself in a neck-and-neck battle between its troubled heart and its egg-shaped head. The heart wins by a nose. Read full review

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

The resulting project matters much and should be seen, but how much it'll be FELT depends on your specific level of patience for a director who presumes audience comprehension to be at about a fourth-grade level (at least he's a shoo-in for Hollywood). Read full review

James Berardinelli

Whatever the reason, the characters often seem only half-formed and there's a strange artificiality about the entire endeavor. Egoyan has never been a realist, and his style has contributed to his ability to deliver a knockout punch. Here, that punch is missing. Read full review

Keith Phipps

Though typically engaging, Ararat occasionally suffers from what's previously been a virtue in Egoyan's filmmaking. His distancing techniques, rather than sharpening his ability to deal with a subject that lends itself to high emotion -- sometimes just seem distancing. Read full review

Jon Strickland

Egoyan has always constructed dense ensemble films, and here again the writer-director hopes to reinforce his themes by piling layer upon layer of character. Unfortunately, the layers end up cluttering the story. Read full review

Dennis Lim

If the movie feels cumbersome and overstuffed, it's because Egoyan's characters, so often aphasic, are this time driven by a compulsion to speak -- though the noisy tumble of words mostly underscores their failure to communicate. Read full review

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User Reviews

RefinedInsights

Aug 11, 2023

Ararat, offers a complex and multi-layered examination of a critical period in history, with well-prepared depictions of Ottoman oppression, the Armenian Genocide, and the brave freedom fighters of the time. The film's historical scenes are indeed its strength, providing insightful glimpsesArarat, offers a complex and multi-layered examination of a critical period in history, with well-prepared depictions of Ottoman oppression, the Armenian Genocide, and the brave freedom fighters of the time. The film's historical scenes are indeed its strength, providing insightful glimpses into events that were horrifying but well depicted; the Young Turks were the group that inspired the nazis, and seeing them portrayed in this light was justifiable.

However, Egoyan's ambitious narrative approach does lead to some complications. The intertwining story of a film premiere and a dysfunctional family tends to stray from the main subject, creating a tangled plot that doesn't always serve the characters or the central theme well. This choice is particularly puzzling considering that portrayals of Armenians in Hollywood are often unjustifiably unfavorable. It's a curious decision for Egoyan to add to this narrative, even though his directorial skill and good intentions are evident throughout the film.

Despite these shortcomings, "Ararat" is a decent watch for those interested in the historical context it explores. The film's strong commitment to historical accuracy and powerful scenes of Armenian resilience elevate it above its narrative flaws.

While "Ararat" may not fully succeed in its storytelling, its earnest efforts to shed light on a dark chapter of history and its well-crafted historical sequences make it a film worth considering.… Expand

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TinaB

Nov 25, 2002

Okay ... this was, in fact, a generally good movie ... however, being Armenian myself, I felt as if though it somehow failed to educate those who STILL don't know the events that took place in 1915. There were so many different complications in the movie, and it made it confusing. The Okay ... this was, in fact, a generally good movie ... however, being Armenian myself, I felt as if though it somehow failed to educate those who STILL don't know the events that took place in 1915. There were so many different complications in the movie, and it made it confusing. The writer didn't clarify the association between some of the events, and what the symbolisms were and what they meant to Armenian people. Those who don't know the sacred Wedding Dance don't understand why that was such a degrading memory, and it could have been explained better. Also, the director knew what kind of audience he would be targeting and I felt as if though that whole sex scene between Celia and Raffi was completely and utterly inappropriate ... there was absolutely no point in that scene, at all. (It's kind of embarrassing when you're sitting next to an 80-year-old woman while that scene was in motion.) And what exactly did the marijuana have to do with anything? How did it affect the movie? I just don't know ... it IS better than nothing, and I am proud that finally a movie was made to educate others of my proud culture, but still ... the expectations were high, and I do feel failed ... if I somehow missed something and that is why my appreciation for the movie isn't as high as it should be, feel free to let me know... Thank You.… Expand

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TinaB

Nov 25, 2002

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