Ararat
2002
Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: (to Edward Saroyan) I think the Turks had a real reason to believe that the Armenians were a threat to their security. I mean, their eastern border was threatened by Russia and, I mean, if they believed that the Armenians were gonna betray them; so this was their war. Populations get moved around all the time.
Raffi: But he thinks Turkey was at war with Armenia. Doesn't it bother you that he doesn't get the history? Edward Saroyan: No, not really. Raffi: I mean why didn't you explain to him that we were citizens, we were Turkish citizens. We had a right to be protected. Edward Saroyan: Are you driving him home? Raffi: Yeah. Edward Saroyan: Huh. Take this. (hands him dollar bills) Buy him a bottle of champagne. Let him think that he has done something special. Raffi: Something special? I'm sorry, Mr Saroyan, I don't think I understand. Edward Saroyan: Young man, do you know what still causes so much pain? It's not the people we lost, or the land. It's to know that we could be so hated. Who are these people, who could hate us so much? How can they still deny their hatred? And so hate us... hate us even more?
David: (takes out pomegranate) You can't bring this in. Edward Saroyan: (endearingly) Please. David: No fruit or vegetables, that includes pomegranates. it's on your form. Edward Saroyan: I like to eat the seed of this fruit. One each day. For luck. David: I'm sorry, that's not allowed. (Mr Saroyan takes out his penknife and cuts the fruit open) What are you doing? Edward Saroyan: This way, I don't need to bring it in. I eat it here, at the gate of your country. Look (takes a bite and nods agreeingly) So, I bring luck in my stomach. Will you try it?
Raffi: Were you serious about what you told him? Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: What? Raffi: That you don't think it happened? Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: What, the genocide? Raffi: Yeah. Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: Are yuo gnna shoot me or something? Look, I never heard about any of this stuff when I was growing up. You know? I did some research for the part. From what I read there were deportations and lots of people died. Armenians and Turks. It was World War 1. Raffi: But Turkey wasn't at war with the Armenians. I mean, just like Germany wasn't at war with the Jews. They were citizens. They were expecting to be protected. That scene you just shot was based on an eyewitness account. Your character Jevdet Bey, the only reason they put him in Van was to carry out the complete extermination of the Armenian population in Van. There were telegrams, there were communicators... Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: Look I'm not saying that something didn't happen. Raffi: Something... Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: Look, I was born here. So were you right? Raffi: Yeah. Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: This is a new country. So let's just drop the f^cking history and get on with it. Noone's gonna wreck your home. Noone's gonna destroy you family. Hmm? So let's go inside and uncork this thing and celebrate. Hmm? Raffi: Do you know what Adolf Hitler told his military commanders to convince them that his plan would work? "Who remembers the extermination of the Armenians?" Ali, actor playing Jevdet Bey: And nobody did. Nobody does.