Cinema
Chaos
Քաոս
Laert Vagharshyan · 1974
Synopsis
In Baku, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the oil magnate Markos agha Alimian leaves his entire fortune to his elder son, Smbat, who had not come back home after his studies and reproached his father for having grown rich by despoiling others. Having become head of the trading house, Smbat is gradually drawn in by business and money, while his younger brother, Mikael, whom the father had not sent to study, leads a life of debauchery and spending.
Context
Vadim Meliksetian's screenplay reached the studio just as Vagharshyan was looking for this subject: having spent time in government offices, he had been struck by the corruption and the cult of money, and a speech by Silva Kapoutikian at the writers' congress had reinforced his resolve. A pavilion was built for the interiors; Levon Atoyants operated the camera, and Karen Djanguirian, still a student, had his first major role opposite Sos Sarkissian. Edvard Mirzoyan rewrote his music in a single night, and the score became a concert suite. Completed in 1973, the film was shown in Moscow in 1975, then in Baku.
Who it is for
About one hour thirty-seven minutes, in Armenian, dubbed into Russian by Mosfilm. The film follows the adapted book closely.
Prizes and reception
Prize for best film at the Union festival in Baku in 1975; well received on its release, it subsequently fell into oblivion.