As a person who has spent a significant portion of my life immersed in documentaries that explore the complexities and heartaches of war-torn regions, I must say that “My Sweet Land” by Sareen Hairabedian resonates deeply with me. The film’s poignant portrayal of Vrej Khatchatryan’s life under constant threat of war in Nagorno-Karabakh is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of unresolved territorial disputes on innocent lives.
Experiencing adolescence amidst the ever-present specter of conflict, as depicted by Director Sareen Hairabedian in her moving documentary “My Sweet Land,” paints a vivid picture of Vrej Khatchatryan, an ethnic Armenian teenager from the small village of Tsaghkashen in the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The tapestry of his life and that of his extended family is woven with strands of conflict, displacement, and exile. Vrej’s upbringing, much like that of his peers, unfolds in an environment steeped in martial culture—from their school lessons and military training, to the games they play, the clothes they wear, and the songs they sing. With a skillful blend of poetic imagery she captured herself and news footage, Hairabedian (a filmmaker with Armenian-Palestinian-Jordanian heritage) powerfully portrays a process of indoctrination that, regrettably, seems to perpetuate this complex situation, passing it down from one generation to the next.
As a movie buff diving into global conflicts, I find myself engrossed in the complexities of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region nestled between Armenia and Azerbaijan that’s often overshadowed by other global crises. This mountainous enclave has been home to a predominantly Armenian population for years, and when the Soviet Union disintegrated in late 1991, they declared independence, a move not recognized globally.
In the year 2020, we meet Vrej who is 11 years old. He resides in a tiny community with only 150 inhabitants, jokingly claiming he shares family ties with many of them. As the eldest child among three siblings, he enters the scene through his parents’ wedding, which took place in a mass ceremony in 2008 and initiates the film. The priest presiding over the wedding declares that the children born to the 700 couples he has blessed will contribute to the population growth and defend their homeland. Vrej, a bright, empathetic, and curious young boy, is born under the weight of a significant burden.
At Vrej’s school, adorned with photos of fallen soldiers, there is a strong emphasis on deep patriotism for their homeland. Students are taught that the geography of their region can change often and conflicts may erupt unexpectedly. A military officer visiting the school to educate children about combat describes it as essentially a preparatory institution for soldiers. The students recognize that by residing in Artsakh, they all bear the soldier’s responsibility because the circumstances necessitate it. Discussions revolving around alternative solutions to territorial disagreements are scarcely found, and the focus remains on confrontation.
Over a span of three tumultuous years, as I chronicled the life of the resilient Khatchatryan family, they were forced to abandon their homeland not once, but twice. In the year 2020, Artak, the patriarch donned in military fatigues like many others in the village, chose to remain and defend our land. Meanwhile, life continued its rhythm for the rest of the Khatchatryan family, residing some eight hours away from Tsaghkashen. The women diligently cooked and cleaned while the children engaged in imaginative war games with makeshift weapons. On Angela’s 57th birthday, Vrej assumed a patriarchal role, raising a toast to our shared hope that Artsakh would prevail and lost territories would be reclaimed once more.
As Vrej turns 13, his sense of certainty lessens. From his time at military camp, he’s discovered that fighting isn’t enjoyable. In a poignant moment, Hairabedian portrays a somber scene where male campers are corralled to a lake and given a fleeting opportunity to swim. Vrej, captivated, splashes around joyfully like any child would, but is constantly reminded of his boundaries by the soldiers.
Towards the end of the movie, Hairabedian strikes a fitting conclusion when Vrej queries, “What becomes of the main character in this story?” However, the response to this enigma may be revealed only by time passing. Considering his background and upbringing, the prognosis appears grim.
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2024-11-24 00:47