German director shooting film on Genocide

A German director and dramatist is working on a film project dedicated to Armenia and the Armenian Genocide.

Christian Papke’s movie, entitled Long Way of Shadows, will be presented on Germany’s first public TV channel on April 21, three days before the tragic anniversary.  As the director himself told reporters in Yerevan, it is ranked as a country representation film that will serve as a visiting card in future.

“I am trying to represent your country, pointing out to its specific features,” he said, comparing the independent Armenian statehood with a fellow who has only recently crossed the adulthood threshold.

The director added that Genocide is a central topic in his work which has 45 minutes’ length.

He further addresed Frantz Werfel’s The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, noting that it very vividly feature the Armenian nation’s tragedy.

“We have planned to organize a 40-hour ongoing reading of that novel by 200 actors. It is good that the world is awakening again”.

“Events to respect the Armenian Genocide victims of victims will be held across Germany this year,” the director said, noting that guest genocide experts will attend the ceremonies on the last day to give clarifications on the tragedy.

He added that a commemoration concert by a renowned Armenian opera singer will conclude the commemorations.

The German director said he doesn’t think that the society is now sufficiently aware of the tragedy, adding that proper work needs to be conducted to fill that information gap.

He noted that a probe into archives revealed also Germany’s share of responsibility, encouraging Armenia to work more actively towards the organization of different events.

Klaus Kuzenberg, the Nuremberg State Theatre’s artistic director also attending the news conference, said it is very remarkable for him that most of the events will be held in their city.

“We have invited parliament members, but we find public awareness-raising to be our major task,” he said, calling for parliaments to confront an informed society’s choice. 

Kuzenberg added that that the awareness-raising objective has also caused them to invite Turkish officials to the ceremonies.