Films A-Z
Gyumri
Gyumri
Jana Ševčíková / Czech Republic / 2008 / 68 min.
Twenty years after the earthquake in the Armenian city of Gyumri, which killed tens of thousands of people, the people there are still trying to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones, especially their children. Some of them still live in the past despite the fact that life moves inexorably on. New children who have been born since then bear the names of their dead siblings so that they can constantly commemorate the victims. Besides leading their own lives, they have been given the task of also living the life of their forebears and realising their dreams. Their parents are forever reminding them of this fact. A standard has been set, which they are frequently compared to, just like the parents weigh up their love for them. On the other hand, other families began a new life, often with new partners. But despite this, their pain has not gone away. Memories return to plague them. Some parents have not stopped searching for their children. They keep waiting and hoping. What is it like to live one's life in the shadow of dead siblings, whose legacy can never be surpassed? Which generation will manage to be born with the knowledge that they won't be compared with someone else? When will this city of ghosts come back to life? Gyumri is the latest film by Czech director Jana Ševčíková. It won the CULT prize for best documentary in the L'Altro Cinema section at the film festival in Rome.