1915

1915 is a compelling and artistic drama released in 2015, dedicated to the centennial commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Directed by Garin Hovannisian and Alec Mouhibian, this intriguing film features Simon Abkarian, Angela Sarafyan, and Sam Page portraying complex characters embedded in the heart-rendering narrative that explores the deep impact of past tragedies on present identities and generations. Through a mesmerizing blend of theater and reality, the film unfolds a poignant narrative that's as much about memory and the continuous struggle for resolution as it is about the pursuit of truth and justice.

Simon Abkarian brings to life the beleaguered character of Simon, a stage director on a complex mission: producing a controversial play at the real-time Los Angeles Theatre to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. His objectives go far beyond artistic expression. His intention is to force his audience to experience the horror of his history, to create understanding and empathy for his people and the tragedies they faced, and ultimately manifest ghosts from the past into the present, a concept sewn into the fabric of the plot that takes the audience on a riveting journey.

Angela Sarafyan, known for her prognosticating machine role in Westworld, plays an entirely different character: Angela, the leading lady of Simon’s play, and his real-life spouse as well. Fighting with her inner demons and wrestling with the specter of her role, she navigates her way through the symbolic connotations and haunting history her character represents. She's the bridge between her spouse's relentless pursuit of truth and the unspeakable tragedy etched into their shared roots.

Completing the primary cast is Sam Page, starring as James, a renowned American actor with a major role in Simon's play. His struggle to understand the depth of his character's actions and motivations, intertwined with the historical events he's been assigned to portray, confronts him with an unfamiliar cultural context and the dark chapters of human history, adding another layer to the film's socio-historical reflection.

1915 is more than a film: it’s an experience. It effectively intertwines personal and collective histories, throwing the spotlight on both individual and shared traumas. The cinematography, led by Leigh Lisbaõ Underwood, gives a hauntingly beautiful backdrop to the theatre stage where different scenes play out. The transitions between multiple layers of reality — theatre, supposed truth, and historical past — are handled skillfully, making the execution gratifying to both an intellectual and emotional audience.

One of the most prominent elements of the movie lies in the ingenious storytelling. The script smartly utilizes the unique setting of the play in progress to blur the lines between fiction and reality, present and past, performance and history, thereby creating an atmosphere of suspense, anticipation, and eerie mystique. This avante-garde approach reflects the distorted perception of history, highlighting how it's ignored, forgotten, or manipulated over time.

Intricately exploring the theme of denial and the long-lasting impact of unresolved historical trauma, 1915 also considers the issue of identity and its connection with historical memory. The film probes into the lingering and often overlooked legacy of the genocide: its multi-generational effect on Armenian diaspora, powerful enough to shape their perception of self and origin.

The overarching theme is the struggle for acknowledgment, for denial is a form of sustaining a tormentor's brutal deed in history. Thus the film's title, 1915, is a symbol; it's more than a year; it's the embodiment of a calamity that became a continuous trial for the Armenian people needing proper recognition.

Staying true to its theme that resonates in activities carried out through the artistic selection, emotive performances, and mind-engaging storyline, 1915 indeed opens up space for dialogue about truth, denial, and the power of memory. Thereby, the movie delivers a resounding message: the past, if left unaddressed or distorted, haunts the present. However, through acknowledgment and acceptance, society can collectively rehabilitate and heal.

1915 is a powerful narrative justified through stellar performances, unique storytelling, and stunning cinematography — an intriguing depiction of a historical tragedy that resonates in the contemporary world. It is not just a film for Armenians but for anyone confronting the ghosts of their past, making it a universal story of pain, memory, denial, and the quest for truth.