BY ANAHITA GRIGORIAN MARQUETANT
The Hamazkayin “Siamanto” Chapter on September 29 co-hosted a screening of the award-winning film “It’s Spring” in Orange County. The event was sponsored by the Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church, ARF “Armen Karo” Gomideh, AYF Ashod Yergat, ARS “Sevan” Chapter, ARS “Karni” Chapter, and Homenetmen “Sartarabad” Chapter.
Following the screening, a Q&A session was held with producer and actor Alexander Khachatryan, co-producer Anna Khachatryan, and director Roman Musheghyan.
In her welcoming remarks, Kohar Zaher introduced both the producer and the director by presenting a brief biography of their achievements.
Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, in his remarks, commemorated the 2020 Artsakh War and prayed for the martyrs, wounded and the forcefully displaced Artsakh Armenians. He spoke on the ultimate cost of war on Armenians in the Homeland and Diaspora, as well as the continued challenges and struggles Armenians have endured throughout history to the present day.
The Harut Barsmanian Armenian Center’s “Ghazarian Hall” was at full capacity, filled with distinguished community members and their loved ones, each carrying their own family memories of genocide, war, love, loss, redemption, resilience of human spirit and the art of survival.
“It’s Spring,” written by Harout Ghukasian, narrates the universal story of love, family, country and the individual decisions and sacrifices each makes for the greater good. Inspired by the events of the 2016 Four-Day Artsakh War, the movie also uniquely touches what true nationalism, love for one’s country, history, heritage and protecting the millennial old ancestral lands means to each and everyone. The film portrays the outcome of the strengths, weaknesses, and the individual and collective thoughts and actions that shape the future of our nation.
At the end of the movie, there were no dry eyes in the room; many having difficulty holding back tears experiencing what has been a harsh, never ending reality for thousands of families. At the same time, it was inspiring to hear from filmmaker Khachatryan, who never gave up on this timely project, which took him over seven years to complete.
“It’s Spring” is a reminder of what matters the most to the human spirit—love. Love between lovers, love for one’s family, country and nation, art, humanity, and the things that are worth fighting for in order to protect and preserve the coming generations. Spring is a time for rebirth, new beginnings and a chance to start over; to plant seeds of love, understanding, peace and compassion.
This remarkable film, loved by international audiences, delivers the most urgent message of love, and hope at a time when indigenous people around the world are facing existential threats. “It’s Spring” is a universal message of love from all who have been working tirelessly to create it and show it to the world.
At the right side of the altar in the Forty Martyrs Church, engraved in beautiful marble, is a message from the 5th century, written in Armenian: “ Faith, Hope, Love and Unity.” Hamazkayin’s support in showcasing such films is a great testament to their mission statement: “To preserve and foster Armenian culture through a varied range of cultural projects and initiatives.”
