Aram

Aram, directed by Robert Kechichian, is a gripping 2002 drama-thriller that highlights the brutal world of political conflict and armed militancy. The film stars Simon Abkarian, Lubna Azabal, and Serge Avedikian. More than just an action drama detailing political struggles, Aram also presents a story about family ties, moral crossroads, the search for justice, and the sacrifice of personal peace for the sins of the past.

The movie's protagonist, Aram (played by Simon Abkarian), is an Armenian by descent, living in Paris when we first meet him. Aram is no ordinary man, though. He's a part of a militant group seeking justice for the Armenian genocide that the Turkish government denies to the world. While he resides in France and holds a functional job, his nights and free time are dictated by his duties to the group and their cause - fighting to bring international attention to the Armenian cause and forcing Turkey to take accountability for the past atrocities.

The opening scenes hit in hard, as the plot swiftly takes us through a bike bomb explosion in Istanbul, Turkey. It's soon revealed that Aram is fundamentally connected to the bombing, which begs the question, why would a man living a seemingly ordinary life in Paris, be involved in a deadly bombing thousands of miles away in Istanbul?

As the story unfolds, viewers are taken through the intricate web of Aram’s past, filled with heartache, deeply rooted responsibility towards his people, and the brutal truth of political conflicts. On the other hand, Lubna Azabal portrays a significant character, Maître Laurence Bourdain. She plays the lawyer who becomes entangled in Aram's complicated world, where the lines between villainy and heroism are blurred.

The involvement of Aram's younger brother, Lévon (played by Mathieu Demy), introduces another fascinating dynamic. Unlike Aram, Lévon is hesitant and initially uninvolved in the armed struggle. However, circumstances drag Lévon into this world, where he struggles to make the right decisions, faltering under the weight of the promise he makes to his brother. The brothers’ relationship adds a family dimension to the film, as Lévon, is swept into the brutality of the fight as he tries to uphold his promise to his brother. The bond that joins these two characters provides a poignant subplot within the broader story.

The dynamic between Aram and his brother Lévon is not the movie's only engaging relationship. The relationship between Aram and his father, Hovannes (played by Serge Avedikian), further deepens the viewer's understanding of the psyche of the militant Armenian cause. As the de facto leader of the militant movement in Paris, Hovannes guides Aram, steering the group, which adds a layer to Aram's motivation as he yearns for his father's approval, an emotion deeply embedded in their culture.

The director, Robert Kechichian, has done an admirable job of maintaining a balance between action-packed sequences and character-driven scenes. He dives deep into the personal narratives of his characters to juxtapose political conflicts’ high stakes against individuals' private desires and challenges. His attention to detail becomes apparent through the careful storytelling across the movie.

The camera work in Aram is laudable. The cinematographers use an infrequent shaky camera to replicate the characters' restlessness and instability of their quest, while switching to steadier frames to capture the chaos of the aftermath of their violent acts, adding to the movie's evocative visual storytelling.

In conclusion, Aram is more than a politically-charged action movie. It delves deep into the psyche of an ethnic community, burdened with a century of denied justice, straining under the consequences of past atrocities. The film strikes a fine balance between political motifs and intimate character arcs, making it a compelling watch. Expect a stirring blend of action, emotion, and suspense that shines a new light on political unrest's human cost through its captivating storytelling in the form of Aram.