‘Amerikatsi’ Director and Star Michael Goorjian on Finding Optimism in a Prison Film for Armenia’s Oscar Entry
variety.comJ. Kim Murphy Filmmaker Michael Goorjian set out to create a different kind of film about Armenian nationality when developing “Amerikatsi,” the country’s submission in the international feature category for this year’s Academy Awards.
Along with directing, Goorjian also stars as Charlie, an American who repatriates to Armenia after World War II — but ends up in a Soviet prison for simply wearing a tie.
The circumstances are absurd and bleak, but Goorjian was intent on finding a light, affirming tone for the story. “There had been a lot of Armenian films usually focused on the genocide.
I just wanted to make something that would be hopeful. But also I wanted to make a film that Armenians could be proud of, but wouldn’t be hard to share — that was enjoyable to watch,” Goorjian shared in a conversation with fellow director Atom Egoyan. “Today there’s so much crazy stuff going on.
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