Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   19 March 2024

S. Andreasyan’s “Earthquake” to hit screens November 18th

S. Andreasyan’s “Earthquake” to hit screens November 18th

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The film “Earthquake” about the 1988 devastating Armenian earthquake will hit the screens November 18th.

ARMENPRESS had an interview with the film’s director Sarik Andreasyan.

Andreasyan says he has lived in Kazakhstan, and wanted to be a director since high school.

After moving to Moscow, he enrolled in Yuri Grimov’s studio, and after graduating began writing scripts. In 2008, Andreasyan shot his first movie.

Asked about choosing actors for his roles, Andreasyan says : “Often we say with humour that while reading the script we see Robert De Niro for all roles. The first famous actor to star in my first movie was Dmitry Nagiyev. I am thankful to him, since he was the only one to agree to star. I invite actors who suit for the roles, I don’t ask someone to act just because they are famous. For instance, in the case of “Earthquake”, we spoke with Konstantin Lavrinenko. Our negotiations lasted for 10 seconds. He was aware of that tragedy and said he wants to star in the movie”.

Speaking about his cooperation with Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Andreasyan says they are friends.

“Initially we didn’t plan Brody’s involvement in “American Heist”, however it turned out he works with the agency with which we cooperate. We presented the script, and three days later Adrien said he hasn’t played such a character before and he would like to portray an ex-con who just got out of prison. When we met, I honestly said that I don’t know what advice to give to an actor who is the youngest actor ever to win an Oscar”, he said.

Andreasyan says he grew up watching crime-dramas like “The Godfather”, “Scarface”. The Armenian director says his favorite actors are Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, whom he has met. “I have met my heroes”, he said.

“Earthquake” was selected by Armenia as the entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards. However, the film was disqualified by the Academy for not meeting the submission requirements.

Andreasyan says the disqualification has nothing to do with the movie itself, but rather with the documents.

“The Academy hasn’t watched the movie yet, since screenings begin in December, and in October they go through the papers. The film wasn’t included because according to the Academy’s demands, the film’s creative supervision must be carried out by citizens of the country which submit the bid. They focus not on nationality but on citizenship. And the majority of those who worked on the film are Russian citizens, but ethnic Armenians”, he said.

I received an offer to shoot a Hollywood movie, but we are still waiting to choose the actors. The most difficult part in the US is finding artists, since the actors’ factor is crucial in the American cinema – it forms the budget”, he said.

Earthquake is a 2016 Armenian drama film directed by Sarik Andreasyan about the 1988 Armenian earthquake. It was selected by Armenia as the entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards. However, the film was disqualified by the Academy for not meeting the submission requirements.

The full interview with director Sarik Andreasyan is available in Armenian. 








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