Robert Sahakyants: I do what I love, it has never been otherwise

PanARMENIAN.Net - - I do what I love, it has never been otherwise. I love making animated films but I can't stand movies. Movies in general, and Armenian films in particular are either boring, melancholic rural genre, or the same boring, melancholic and in addition fake urban genre with impractical literary language, and unreasonable behavior of the actors. I've never loved the cinema and I always ask those who argue with me: "Do you have at least one cassette with an Armenian film in your house?" and the dispute ends at that. The Armenian cinema has never been a phenomenon. There have been some good films, but, largely, even they were compromising, and the causes of compromise were the era, censorship and mentality. But if you cast a neutral glance, there is hardly any motion picture that can be called an Armenian film.

- I cannot recall fragments of the Armenian culture even in Soviet times. The only difference is that the same words were pronounced louder then. We have always had a superficial culture: everyone is awarded, everyone has titles, and it makes them self-conceited and arrogant, but in depth they are all null. The same stock phrases, the same old nonsense about the history and origin, supported neither by knowledge nor by law. The overall level of development and education is low; nothing has been changed regarding culture - just as bad and provincial as it used to be. Provinciality is a sin; it's the sin of provincialism. We have remained the same backyard of the empire. It's a shame that cultural figures and intellectuals are ignorant. And the crowd does not think about its antiquity and exclusivity. It doesn't give a damn. Crowd is always a crowd.

- Let us recall what we have. Do not take music. Komitas Quartet has always existed and it will live on - there have always been remarkable musicians in Armenia. I'm talking of the ability to talk, think, discuss and explain one's standpoint. Any "cultural figure" can be caught unawares. For example, nobody has ever thought if Dostoevsky is indeed good. It is not necessary to subvert, but one can doubt at least. Eyes will pop out on their heads if you ask "Is "Gioconda" real or not, should it be hung or not, is there a mystery smile or not?" They can not express an opinion on it or even think over it. We perceive culture by blocks and with slothfulness.

- It is absolute laziness to think that it is not for us to consider. We have more urgent, tangible goals - to go out, toss someone and be happy on that. I'm not going to recall facts, not because I do not know them but because everything is so purely formally done that to accuse anyone would be pointless. Cultural figures are amazingly caught at medals. Three days ago severely criticizing the authorities on TV, from the hands of the same authorities they take alms. Repair the theater and actors will support the government, do not repair and they'll be for the opposition. It is not my discovery; this is a statement of fact.

- Tell me how to explain to schoolchildren that it's a sin to tease an animal if on Sundays we make animal sacrifices before the child's eyes. They say it's an ancient custom of ours. Then, let us go back to our original state and remove this extraneous feature. Especially that it is very delicate - just enough to blow away.

- I have a very reserved attitude towards Yerevan. This is my favorite city because it is related to my childhood and the people I meet every day. It is the studio on Teryan Street, where I began to work. It is specific buildings that I love, but it does not mean that I like them. Never could I understand our stock phrase "pink city". I generally prefer cream colour, and secondly it is not pink, but dirty-violet with unpleasant tint that arouses no enthusiasm at all. I simply love this city, but her being older than Rome doesn't mean she is better. That repulsive color of buildings is rubbish. Complete absence of aesthetics and the desire to have beautiful environment. I love this city but were I a tourist, I would never come here. Stereotypes are also terrible because poets poetized and profiteers that became businessmen perceived it bluntly. And so for the right to swim in Lake Sevan they take crazy amounts of money, because it is a treasure for us and better than the Mediterranean Sea. Five-star hotels - who ever builds these hotels? Will businessmen ever come to Yerevan as a tourist and pay these amounts for staying a day in such hotels? You can never get an answer to these questions, and I've already discussed the reasons.

- At the age of 23 I wrote the following for Ara Yernjakyan, who opened the Chamber Theater and more and more up-to-date it is becoming for me: "Here in the mountains there live wonderful people. They have been living here for ages. This wise old shepherd was tending his sheep when Alexander of Macedon passed through this land with his troops. Alexander went further and soon died. Years later another Alexander, this time Pushkin, came here and met the old shepherd. He went further and was soon killed in a duel. And the wise old shepherd continues tending his sheep in the mountains. Long life and new Alexanders to you, old shepherd".

- You can love Yerevan, but you needn't tell tales. Everything is separate: it's mountains, it' sheep, it's Rome.