Voyage to Amasia

Voyage to Amasia is a poignant, emotionally charged documentary directed by Randy Bell and Eric V. Hachikian. Released in 2011, this cinematically beautiful production is a stirring examination of heritage, family history, identity, and the deep connection between place and self. By merging evocative music, historical blurbs, excerpts from memoirs, and personal anecdotes, it manages to paint a vivid portrait of the city of Amasya and pay homage to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The film focuses on Eric V. Hachikian, an Armenian American music composer based in New York City, as he establishes an introspective expedition to trace his ancestral roots. His strong reference point is his grandmother's memoirs, a diary of hope and heartbreak that throws light on the Armenian exodus a century ago. Hachikian embarks on this journey, not only to understand his grandmother's past but also to decipher his own identity and grasp the role history plays in the present narrative.

The title of the film, Voyage to Amasia, is a metaphorical journey into the heart of Armenia, but specifically, Amasya, a city in present-day Turkey. Through the lens of the camera, the scenic beauty of Amasya, unfolding in a picturesque landscape with its exotic buildings, lush orchards, and crystalline river flowing through it, adds a visual charm to the narrative.

Hachikian explores his complex relationship with his roots through the film. The narrative according to his perspective provides a first-person account of the discovery of familial history that blurs the line between wanting to know and fearing the truth. There is a sense of poignant melancholy in Hachikian’s search for his roots and his yearning to belong. The film manages to express the emotional struggle of being a part of two cultures – being Armenian by heritage and American by birth, the coping with crossover identity and twin loyalties.

One of the unique aspects of Voyage to Amasia is its commendable use of music. As a composer himself, Hachikian utilises his musical prowess to infuse an undeniable auditory richness to the narrative, making it a crucial element to the storytelling. The music brilliantly accompanies the introspective journey, becoming a voice for the silent pages of his grandmother's memoirs. It helps in expressing certain emotions, for which words can seem inadequate like sorrow, longing, and deep reflection.

The movie also delves into the Armenian Genocide, using the backdrop of Hachikian's personal voyage to highlight the historical tragedy. Archival photographs and excerpts from memoirs help in painting a vivid picture of the painful events of the past while challenging the widespread denial of the Genocide in Turkey. The film's multiple narrative layers, which juxtapose the personal against the political, and the past against the present, make it a dialogue about injustice, memory, and the power of truth.

Voyage to Amasia is a beautiful and sentimental journey towards truth, reconciliation and understanding. Although it is deeply personal, the core themes of the film have a universal resonance. It handles the delicate subject matter with sensitivity and fairness, and its exploration of the duality of personal and national identity is both perceptive and poignant.

The slow-paced narrative can take a moment to sink in, but once it does, the viewer gets involved in the introspective journey offered by Voyage to Amasia. The film serves as a symbolic pilgrimage for people trying to make peace with their past while finding a sense of self along the way. Its beauty lies in the realization that, like Eric, we are all, in a sense, voyagers charting our courses through the intricate tapestry of our personal and communal histories. It is a poignant realization for everyone who has tangled roots, a tribute to the past, and an attempt at defining the future.

Voyage to Amasia is not just a film, but a memoir, a music album and a history lesson, all fittingly blended into an intimate human story. It is filled with emotional depth, historical richness and a sense of universal humanity that transcends beyond its run-time. You undertake not just a journey to a city but an emotional voyage across the pages of history, family ties, and self-discovery. Its sensitive storytelling and candid perspective make it an enduring narrative of finding personal roots amid national heritage.