Short film
Թթենի
Gennadi Melkonyan · 1980
Synopsis
In a village, Samson and Gaspar are neighbours and both fathers of large families, one having only daughters, the other only sons. Their two houses share a single garden, and the mulberry tree growing there becomes the subject of their quarrels, as well as what binds the two families to each other.
Context
Colour short film based on a short story by Zorayr Khalapian, from a screenplay by Edouard Akopov, co-produced by the Yerevan studio and Mosfilm; Melkonyan directed it, with L. Davtian. Mikhail Vardanov was behind the camera and A. Boyamian wrote the music, with Razmik Haroyan, Leonard Sarkissov, Nona Petrossian and Tamar Hovhannissian. The latter, who played Chouchan, has recalled asking the director what the film was about, and getting no answer other than a smile. Completed in 1979, it was first shown on 3 May 1980.
Who it is for
Under twenty minutes, in Armenian, subtitled. A neighbourhood comedy, set in a single location.
Prizes and reception
Selected in 1993 for the Centre Pompidou retrospective of Armenian cinema; a copy is distributed by the National Cinema Centre of Armenia.