We went back to the DC International Film Festival tonight to see two more films. The first, "Armenia" (or in the original French "Voyage en Armenie") is the story of an older man with a heart condition who has spent most of his adult life in Marseilles, but rather than face an operation decides to go back to Armenia. His physician-daughter follows him there, and spends the movie searching for him to bring him back to France for his surgery only to find out that she is more Armenian that she ever knew.
The visuals are terrific. You get a great feeling for various aspects of the country (assuming that the terrific visuals are indicative of the country as a whole). The plot, on the other hand, while is has its moments, is a bit contrived and convoluted, as the whole of the country seems to glom on to this French speaking physician (who trapses around the rocks and railroad tracks wearing four inch spike heels), causing her to meet more people and have more adventures in six days than is humanly conceivable. She even gets to shoot two heavies who were manhandling her manicurist and hairstylist, who was also dealing in illegal medications and dancing nude in a nightclub. Did I like it? I have no idea. The combination of the plot and the scenery created such an odd mix than I have no idea if I was seeing a good travelogue or a mediocre adventure yarn, or an unusual finding of one's identity.
The second movie, "The Sound of Soul" was a disappointment. Sacred music recorded at the Fez Festival of Sacred Music. Some of the music was pleasant; some was jarring. The narrations were run of the mill; and the comments of World Bank and WTO officials seemed simply out of place. The portrait of Fez was interesting, but I got a better feel for Armenia. It just was not special. But I did get to watch the low hanging earings of all of the female performers (except for those in complete head wrappings).
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