Tigran Mansuryan plays in Anna Kondo's new movie

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS. Even during hard times, Armenians have always retained a great sense of humor. The new movie by filmmaker Anna Achdian Kondo is dedicated to this topic. The movie is titled “Armenia Commedia” (“Armenian Comedy”).

“Armenia Commedia” is dedicated to the story of two wealthy tourists, who arrive in Armenia on a secret mission. They spend 5 days travelling in Armenia and realize their mission, which can seem mysterious and pregnant with spiritual threats to others.

In a conversation with “Armenpress” filmmaker Anna Achdian Kondo underscored: “The movie reflects upon the friendship, death, memory, and a number of other phenomena as well. Maya Dawn Lewis (Alexandra Stewart) - accompanied by her friend Ted Cross (Antony Langdon) - travels to Armenia to celebrate the memory of her best friend, Anoush... The movie was shot in Yerevan, Sevan, Geghard, and Garni.”

“I knew that I wanted to work again with the tandem, Alexandra Stewart and Antony Langdon as Maya and Ted. Both starred in my prior film “Merry Christmas” and have such great chemistry. They share a love of filmmaking and adventure. They are curious, generous and passionate people. I knew they would be incredibly affected by Armenia; its culture, its people, its breathtaking landscapes, its monuments, its arts, as well as its exquisite cuisine. Today’s Yerevan is vibrant and beautiful. Armenians are soulful and always eager to share with the rest of the world the richest of old and new Armenia,” Anna Achdian Kondo noted.

Among other things, the filmmaker highlighted: “I was certain that this would be an amazing voyage for them both as actors and as characters. In 2009 accompanied with my long time producer, Alex Charpentier, I visited Armenia during the Golden Apricot Film Festival where my short film “Proud Iza” was screening. I felt instantly that there was something very special about Yerevan as a city. Lately I have been feeling that the world at large is in danger of becoming a flatter place. From airport to airport, from city to city, there is a scary form of blending that is threatening world cultures. I still like my world round and felt that an authenticity, a unique spirit, was still present in Armenia and could not miss the opportunity to film there.

The film is my boss. It will be ready when it wants to. As soon as it is, I can’t wait to share it with an international audience.

Essentially, I wanted to make three films in three different countries, the United States, Armenia, and France. I currently live in the States, was born in Armenia and grew up in France. I perceive myself as a citizen of all three cultures and want to incorporate aspects of this into my work. Visually, culturally, and from a personal and emotional standpoint all three universes have influenced me. The first film “Merry Christmas” was shot in Pennsylvania with a cast of international actors. The second “Armenia Commedia” was shot in Yerevan and its surroundings with also an international cast. I am currently in pre-production of the third film “C’est la Vie” which will be shot this upcoming June in a suburb of Paris and once again with an international cast.”

In addition, Anna Achdian Kondo stated: “Tigran Mansuryan has had a huge impact on me equally as a woman and a filmmaker. His great artistic achievement is no secret. His music is celestial; modern and classical. I also hold dear and close his philosophy of life. His humility and his generosity have given to his music a higher spiritual content. The man behind the maestro has enriched the world with his genius, his elegance, his dignity, and his superior emotional intelligence. In all ways he has been my true mentor. So naturally, it was the greatest of honors to have the opportunity to work with him in “Armenia Commedia” where he performs as himself at Geghard Monastery.”