Synopsis
Artur, his two school friends Arman and Zhora, their ex-teacher Kima and taxi driver Zaven live all with their dreams and struggles on the Armenian side of the Armenian-Turkish border village of Margara, that since many years has closed borders and is located just 14.5 km away from Mount Ararat, the powerful symbol of Armenian identity, yet also too close to trauma of the Armenian Genocide.
With Armenia and Turkey in negotiations to reopen the border bridge again dramatic changes are awaited for all citizens of Margara. The opening will affect the symbolic status of the mountain and bring huge change by transforming the decade militarized village into a transit zone.
Artur lives next to the border bridge with his big family who is making a living from farming. Artur dreams of climbing Mount Ararat with his school friends. Artur is spending most of his days roaming the village, riding his bicycle with his friends, trying to understand what is happening beyond the border bridge, spreading gossip.
78-year-old Kima lives alone in her small house. She is a former history teacher and had most villagers as students in her worklife. Kima is deeply connected to the history of Margara and lovingly welcomes Artur and his friends to her home where they are surrounded by her books, listening to her stories of Mount Ararat and Armenian history. The potential reopening of the border threatens to disrupt the delicate balance she is holding on to for so long.
One of Kima’s ex-student’s is 60-year old Zaven, a taxi driver, living with his large family. The impending border opening puts Zaven in a difficult position, as the government wants to buy his house to build a parking lot for customs services. Zaven faces a tough choice to sell his home and leave, or to risk being forcibly displaced as the future remains uncertain.
Will the boys' dreams of climbing Mount Ararat ever come true? Will the Russians, who have guarded the Armenian-Turkish border for a century, leave?
With Armenia and Turkey in negotiations to reopen the border bridge again dramatic changes are awaited for all citizens of Margara. The opening will affect the symbolic status of the mountain and bring huge change by transforming the decade militarized village into a transit zone.
Artur lives next to the border bridge with his big family who is making a living from farming. Artur dreams of climbing Mount Ararat with his school friends. Artur is spending most of his days roaming the village, riding his bicycle with his friends, trying to understand what is happening beyond the border bridge, spreading gossip.
78-year-old Kima lives alone in her small house. She is a former history teacher and had most villagers as students in her worklife. Kima is deeply connected to the history of Margara and lovingly welcomes Artur and his friends to her home where they are surrounded by her books, listening to her stories of Mount Ararat and Armenian history. The potential reopening of the border threatens to disrupt the delicate balance she is holding on to for so long.
One of Kima’s ex-student’s is 60-year old Zaven, a taxi driver, living with his large family. The impending border opening puts Zaven in a difficult position, as the government wants to buy his house to build a parking lot for customs services. Zaven faces a tough choice to sell his home and leave, or to risk being forcibly displaced as the future remains uncertain.
Will the boys' dreams of climbing Mount Ararat ever come true? Will the Russians, who have guarded the Armenian-Turkish border for a century, leave?
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