For Armenian director Aram Shahbazyan, a true tragedy of the post-Soviet era has been the fate of his generation's fathers. Once heroes of labour and emblems of respect, their age prevented them from taking the steps necessary to tackle the uncertainties of a new society – they are, in his words, a 'lost generation'.
The story of Hayak 'Hamo' Avanesian, protagonist of Shahbazyan's recent Moskvitch, My Love is true to form. Having fled Azerbaijan during the collapse of the Soviet Union, Hamo and his wife Aroos live a meagre existence in rural Armenia, surviving on the few dollars their son is able to send from Moscow. It has long been his dream to own a bright red Moskvitch: another symbol of that city, a car to symbolise Soviet technological prowess and modernity. Every morning in a dream-like ritual, Hamo polishes a toy Moskvitch he has cherished ever since leaving Azerbaijan. When local villager Sako puts his real Moskvitch on sale, Hamo seizes the opportunity.
Moskvitch, My Love is a joint collaboration between Armenian, French, and Russian cinematographers. The film was first shown in Armenia in February 2015, and has since appeared at the Moscow Film Festival. Nevertheless, these international credentials have not tempted Shahbazyan to forget the local; the film's cast comprises mostly actors from regional theatres across Armenia, many of whom have never before appeared on screen.
