The eminent Armenian composer Komitas, born Soghomon (Westernized as Solomon), clumsily flits in and out of Arman Nshanian’s “Songs of Solomon,” his figure used as a historical marker in a drama designed to draw attention to the Hamidian massacres perpetrated against the Armenians in the 1890s. Despite the shocking number of deaths, estimated at between 200,000 to 300,000, the atrocities tend to receive little attention when compared with the Armenian Genocide two decades later, so while any focus is welcome, it’s deeply frustrating that “Songs” does it so poorly. , making it a natural for submission as Armenia’s foreign Oscar candidate. Less understandable is Nick Vallelonga’s involvement as producer.
The story is narrated by Sevil (Arevik Gevorgyan), a fictionalized Turkish woman who, together with her Armenian chum Sona, befriends Soghomon in 1881 when they’re all children in the western Anatolian town of Kütahya (also known as Koutina). This was a time,...
The story is narrated by Sevil (Arevik Gevorgyan), a fictionalized Turkish woman who, together with her Armenian chum Sona, befriends Soghomon in 1881 when they’re all children in the western Anatolian town of Kütahya (also known as Koutina). This was a time,...
- 2/8/2021
- by Jay Weissberg
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s International Feature Oscar entry from Armenia, Songs Of Solomon, boasts Green Book Academy Award-winning co-writer/producer Nick Vallelonga as producer for the film debut of theater director Arman Nshanian. Songs Of Solomon is a relatively low-budget but emotive watch, contrasting the power of music and friendship with the horrors of genocide.
Audrey Gevorkian’s screenplay details the friendship between a Turkish girl and her Armenian friend, based on stories told to Sirvart Kavoukjian by her grandmothers. The script imagines these two young girls to have been close to Komitas, the beloved Armenian composer and pioneer of ethnomusicology. Born Soghomon Soghomonian, Komitas was an orphan whose extraordinary singing voice opened doors and put him on the path to priesthood and fame.
The timeline flits between a concert in 1915 Constantinople, where the adult Komitas is performing, and the kids growing up in Koutina, Ottoman Empire from 1881. Played by Slava Seyranyan,...
Audrey Gevorkian’s screenplay details the friendship between a Turkish girl and her Armenian friend, based on stories told to Sirvart Kavoukjian by her grandmothers. The script imagines these two young girls to have been close to Komitas, the beloved Armenian composer and pioneer of ethnomusicology. Born Soghomon Soghomonian, Komitas was an orphan whose extraordinary singing voice opened doors and put him on the path to priesthood and fame.
The timeline flits between a concert in 1915 Constantinople, where the adult Komitas is performing, and the kids growing up in Koutina, Ottoman Empire from 1881. Played by Slava Seyranyan,...
- 2/5/2021
- by Anna Smith
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Cloudburst Entertainment has acquired rights to Songs of Solomon, Armenia’s official entry for this year’s International Feature Film Oscar race. The drama, directed by Arman Nshanian, who also produced the pic with Oscar-winning Green Book producer and co-writer Nick Vallelonga and Asko Akopyan, will get a 2021 release date.
Nshanian’s feature directorial debut, written by Audrey Gevorkian based on a true story, centers on a brave Turkish woman who, at a time of dire prejudice during the Hamidian massacres, risks her own life and the life of her family to save her best friend who is hunted down for her religious beliefs. The pic spans 1881-1915 in Constantinople and culminates in the last concert given by Archbishop Solomon, the composer also known as Komitas. Samvel Tadevossian, Arevik Gevorgyan, Tatev Hovakimyan, Sos Janibekyan, Nshanian, Artashes Aleksanyan and Jean-Pier Nshanian star.
“Songs of Solomon explores a difficult time in...
Nshanian’s feature directorial debut, written by Audrey Gevorkian based on a true story, centers on a brave Turkish woman who, at a time of dire prejudice during the Hamidian massacres, risks her own life and the life of her family to save her best friend who is hunted down for her religious beliefs. The pic spans 1881-1915 in Constantinople and culminates in the last concert given by Archbishop Solomon, the composer also known as Komitas. Samvel Tadevossian, Arevik Gevorgyan, Tatev Hovakimyan, Sos Janibekyan, Nshanian, Artashes Aleksanyan and Jean-Pier Nshanian star.
“Songs of Solomon explores a difficult time in...
- 1/14/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The Academy on Friday unveiled to its voters a record 93 films will compete in the Best International Feature Film category — which will no doubt leading to a busy four weeks of viewing before first-round voting begins on Feb. 1.
Helped by Covid-inspired rules that relaxed the usual entry requirements, the films topped the record of 92 entries set in 2017, as TheWrap suggested they likely would in December. The films include a record 34 female directors, seven more than the previous high of 27 set last year.
This is not the official list of qualifying films, which is expected to be released by the Academy later in January. But these 93 films are all in the members-only online screening room devoted to the category, and each of them has been put on a “required viewing” list for one-fourth of the voters. It is unlikely that any of the films will be disqualified at this point, although...
Helped by Covid-inspired rules that relaxed the usual entry requirements, the films topped the record of 92 entries set in 2017, as TheWrap suggested they likely would in December. The films include a record 34 female directors, seven more than the previous high of 27 set last year.
This is not the official list of qualifying films, which is expected to be released by the Academy later in January. But these 93 films are all in the members-only online screening room devoted to the category, and each of them has been put on a “required viewing” list for one-fourth of the voters. It is unlikely that any of the films will be disqualified at this point, although...
- 1/8/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Every year since its creation in 1956, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) invites the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. The award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains primarily non-English dialogue and that was released theatrically in their respective countries between 1 October 2019 and 31 December 2020.
Here are the Asian Submissions for Best International Feature Film. There are some excellent movies in this bunch and we have seen and reviewed already some of them.
Armenia
“Songs of Solomon” by Arman Nshanian
Bangladesh
“Sincerely Yours, Dhaka” by eleven different directors
Bhutan
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom“ by Pawo Choyning Dorji
Cambodia
“Fathers” by Huy Yaleng
China
“Leap” by Peter Chan
Georgia
“Beginnin” by Dea Kulumbegashvili
Hong Kong
“Better Days” by Derek Tsang
India
“Jallikattu...
Here are the Asian Submissions for Best International Feature Film. There are some excellent movies in this bunch and we have seen and reviewed already some of them.
Armenia
“Songs of Solomon” by Arman Nshanian
Bangladesh
“Sincerely Yours, Dhaka” by eleven different directors
Bhutan
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom“ by Pawo Choyning Dorji
Cambodia
“Fathers” by Huy Yaleng
China
“Leap” by Peter Chan
Georgia
“Beginnin” by Dea Kulumbegashvili
Hong Kong
“Better Days” by Derek Tsang
India
“Jallikattu...
- 1/6/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
While the Academy has not yet released the full official list, these are the films Variety has learned have been submitted by various countries in the international film race. The shortlist will be announced Feb. 9 and the nominations on March 15. The Academy Awards ceremony takes place on April 25.
Albania Open Door
Director: Florenc Papas
Key Cast: Luli Bitri, Jonida Vokshi, Gulielm Radoja
Logline: Pregnant woman and her sister try to find a man to pretend to be the mom-to-be’s husband before visiting their traditional father.
Prodco: Bunker Film Plus
Algeria Héliopolis
Director: Djaâfar Gacem
Key cast: Souhila Mallem, Mehdi
Ramdani, Cesar Duminil
Logline: Algerians fight for independence punctuated by the 1945 massacre in the ancient city of Héliopolis.
Prodco: Centre Algérien de Développement du Cinéma
Argentina The Sleepwalkers
Director: Paula Hernández
Key Cast: Érica Rivas, Ornella D’elía, Marilu Marini, Daniel Hendler
Logline: A family drama encompasses the sexual awakening...
Albania Open Door
Director: Florenc Papas
Key Cast: Luli Bitri, Jonida Vokshi, Gulielm Radoja
Logline: Pregnant woman and her sister try to find a man to pretend to be the mom-to-be’s husband before visiting their traditional father.
Prodco: Bunker Film Plus
Algeria Héliopolis
Director: Djaâfar Gacem
Key cast: Souhila Mallem, Mehdi
Ramdani, Cesar Duminil
Logline: Algerians fight for independence punctuated by the 1945 massacre in the ancient city of Héliopolis.
Prodco: Centre Algérien de Développement du Cinéma
Argentina The Sleepwalkers
Director: Paula Hernández
Key Cast: Érica Rivas, Ornella D’elía, Marilu Marini, Daniel Hendler
Logline: A family drama encompasses the sexual awakening...
- 12/23/2020
- by Shalini Dore
- Variety Film + TV
"Come with me, my child. Take my hand." A new trailer has been released for an international film titled Songs of Solomon, made by Armenian actor Arman Nshanian. He was initially going to make it as a short film, but turned into a full feature instead thanks to the push of producers. Inspired by true events, this is a film about a childhood friendship, torn apart by the horrific Hamidian massacres infiltrated by the Ottoman Empire under the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II (1894-1896). This epic portrayal spans from 1881, to 1915, Constantinople, taking us on an emotional and epic musical journey to the last concert given by Archbishop Komitas. A musical and biographical film which takes place on the backdrop of the sacred and ancient music of Archbishop Komitas, also known as Solomon. The film stars Samvel Tadevossian, Sos Janibekyan, Tatev Hovakimyan, Artashes Aleksanyan, Arman Nshanian, Arev Gevorkian, as well as Jean-Pier Nshanian.
- 12/22/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Today brings an emotionally-charged trailer for Songs Of Solomon, an upcoming historical drama from producer Nick Vallelonga, known to many as the Oscar-winning producer/screenwriter of director Peter Farrelly's Green Book. Based on true events, Songs Of Solomon tells the powerful story of a childhood friendship, torn apart by the horrific Hamidian massacres and infiltrated by the Ottoman…...
- 10/4/2019
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.