Images and Perceptions of Armenia in Armenian Diaspora Films

Abstract

This study examines the images and perceptions of Armenia constructed by Armenian diasporic filmmakers across three major periods: the Soviet era, post-Soviet transition, and contemporary times. Through a close analysis of diasporic films, the research highlights how representations shifted from imagined and symbolic portrayals during the Soviet era—formed without direct access to Armenia—to more realistic, heterogeneous, and critical depictions following Armenia’s independence. Soviet-period diasporic cinema emphasized themes of trauma, loss, and imagined homeland, while post-Soviet and contemporary films introduced narratives of disillusionment, economic struggle, concealed trauma, and fragmented identity. Special focus is given to how filmmakers like Atom Egoyan, Gariné Torossian, and Michael Hagopian conceptualize Armenia not solely as a geographical homeland but as a complex construct of memory, culture, and ongoing negotiation. The analysis underscores that Armenian diaspora cinema plays a dual role: preserving a dispersed national identity while exposing the contradictions and evolving realities of Armenia within the global cultural context.