The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia

The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia
Directed by	Inna Sahakyan, Arman Yeritsyan
Written by	Vardan Hovhannisyan
Produced by	Vardan Hovhannisyan]]
Cinematography	War time:Vardan Hovhannisyan, Peace time: Vahagn Ter-Hakobyan
Edited by	Tigran Baghinyan
Release date	2009
Running time	72 minutes
Language	English

The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia documentary tells the story of Zhora, 78 years-old, and Knyaz, 77 years-old, were once the most celebrated tightrope dancers in Armenia. Today they are the only existing masters who can keep this ancient art alive against the currents of contemporary society. Envious rivals throughout their lives, they now share the same hope -- that the only remaining tightrope student will carry on their life’s work. Hovsep, a 17 year-old orphan adopted by Zhora, has to decide whether or not to accept the responsibility of being the last tightrope dancer in a society that has abandoned both him and the art of tightrope dancing. And now, after the death of Zhora, his teacher, Hovsep’s choice has only become more difficult…

Synopsis

Imagine that one day your life’s work will become worthless. Imagine approaching the eightieth year of your life and having no one continuing the work you have accomplished. This is the psychological burden that Zhora and Knyaz, the most celebrated tightrope dancers in Armenia, must cope with.

From a very young age both aspired to become tightrope dancers. One of them had always dreamed about being closer to the sky, while the other dreamed about fame and glory. Having fulfilled their wishes by mastering the tightrope, they soon became adversaries. Now, too old to perform, their rivalry and their exaggerated memories of the past touch on the absurd. Gossiping and ridiculing each other’s past performances and exploits, may be the onlypsychological outlet through which they can vent their anger and disappointment in the disappearance of their beloved art.
Tightrope dancing has always been a calling for these two masters. Their lives are inseparable from the tightrope. But in order for this art form to remain alive, a next generation of dancers must be trained. In today’s world, is it possible to find any young students that would embrace the tightrope with equal fervor? Times have changed and new technologies have brought new forms of entertainment that capture the imagination. People who were once astonished at the amazing acrobatic feats performed by tightrope dancers now pass by a performance with indifference, not even bothering to lift their heads. It is no longer prestigious to become a tightrope dancer in contemporary Armenia. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that Mamikon, Knyaz’s only student, abandoned the tightrope in search of a better life.
With only one tightrope dancer left, Zhora and Knyaz must overcome their stubborn pride, to foster a shared hope -- that Hovsep continue performing. The two masters understand that it is only through Hovsep that they can keep this holy art of tightrope dancing alive. Till now, Hovsep has been a very skilled dancer, willing to learn all the dexterous tricks required of the tightrope. But his motivation may be to merely please Zhora, his teacher and adopted grandfather…
Young Hovsep was never taught to make choices. Abandoned in an orphanage, he was adopted by Zhora when he was six years-old and destined to become a tightrope dancer. When he was younger, he loved the art, since dancing on the gave him the opportunity to grow up in a family, rather than in an orphanage. But as the years passed, he started to understand that the tightrope is a ‘prison’ for him; that he never gets the chance to decide what he wants to do. Most importantly, he started to understand that he is not a ‘beloved grandchild’ for Zhora, but a ‘tool’ which allows the old man to continue his life’s work. Now, for the first time in his life, this young boy is in a different position. Being the only student of the tightrope, he has the power to decide not only his destiny but the entire future of tightrope dancing in Armenia. Hovsep has become the lord of the once mighty kingdom of Armenian tightrope dancers, with no one to rule over except two old subjects, Zhora and Knyaz.
Now, after the recent death of his grandfather/teacher Zhora, Hovsep faces a much more difficult situation. He now stands before the hardest decision of his life. On the one hand, since tightrope dancing has always been a heavy burden, Hovsep now feels free. But on the other hand, he still feels the obligation to continue his art in his master’s memory. He now has the freedom to do whatever he wishes -- to escape from his past, but he is also left completely alone, without anyoe who loves him and without any financial support to start a new life…
What will Hovsep’s choice be? To become the keeper of ancient traditions or to reject tightrope dancing altogether? Will he sacrifice his youth for the sake of the tightrope in memory of his master Zhora, will he perhaps organize his own troupe with Knyaz, or will he turn to strengthening his relationship with his mother to start a family over from the beginning? Will society be able find a place for the fading holy art of tightrope dancing and its lonely knight Hovsep?

External links

• http://www.barsmedia.am/tightrope/index.html - "The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia" Official website
• http://www.barsmedia.am/ - Bars Media Documentary Film Studio Official website