Emily Mkrtichian is a remarkable writer, producer, director and talented storyteller who uses her craft to tell the story of women from Artsakh. Her beautifully made film There Was, There Was Not spotlights four Artsakh Armenian women who defied the odds with their strength and resilience. These unsung heroines are Sosè Balasanyan, Gayane Hambardzumyan, Svetlana Harutunyan and Siranush Sargsyan.
Mkrtichian, born and raised in the United States, studied creative writing and then spent a decade in Armenia. She worked for Bars Media, bringing her passion for visual storytelling into play. She realized the power of film when working with Tigran Hamasyan.
Mkrtichian wanted to explore a different angle in depicting women from the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region. Her first movie, Motherland, about women deminers of Artsakh debuted in 2016. Mkrtichian noticed that all of the deminers were single mothers whose husbands had passed away defending the homeland. It was one of the films about the women who did the heavy lifting of continuing society after war, a complicated story that needed to be told.
There Was, There Was Not amplifies the stories of four generations of women through the challenges and devastation of war and ethnic cleansing. The film covers the lives of these four exemplary women from 2018-2024. Mkrtichian wanted the film to do justice to the sacrifices of these resilient women.
The Armenian Film Society held a screening of the film in partnership with Abril Books in September in Los Angeles. It has also had screenings at True/False Film Fest in March, Heartland Film in October, and DOC NYC in November, where it is available for online viewing until December 1. At the Golden Apricot Festival in July, it won the prestigious FIPRESCI International Film Critics Prize and the Honorable Mention in the Regional Competition. The theater in Yerevan was filled with people who experienced the beauty, as well as the intense devastation in Artsakh.
“Everyone came out in tears. The movie reminded them of their pain, and it was a cathartic healing experience for all,” Mkrtichian recalled.
Mkrtichian’s storytelling resonates deeply with audiences, evoking powerful emotions and fostering a sense of connection to the ongoing struggles and hopes of the Armenian people. She is eager for the film to be shown to communities around the nation and the world. Her movie is one of pain, longing and devastation, but also conveys deep hope and resilience.
The movie presents the intense beauty of Artsakh and the unwavering dedication and will of its people. It will make you sad and angry while strengthening your resolve to see an unoccupied and free Artsakh.
Follow Emily on Instagram and on her website at emilymkrtichian.com for updates.
