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The Art of Seeing, The Art of Remembering

"The Art of Seeing, The Art of Remembering" (2023) skillfully utilizes the Image as the Protagonist, drawing on the ethnological insights of the Director to enrich its narrative.

In this captivating film, the Director works closely with two distinct Armenian communities residing in traditional border villages, where the potential resistance from hostile neighbors looms large. Ethnology, the study of cultures and societies, significantly informs the Director's choices throughout the filmmaking process. By delving deep into the customs, traditions, and collective memory of these communities, the Director ensures an authentic portrayal that resonates with the audience on a profound level.

The film thoughtfully explores the establishment of a Community Archive, with village Elders playing a crucial role in preserving their cultural heritage. This choice is driven by the Director's commitment to capturing the essence of intergenerational knowledge transfer and the significance of preserving a community's identity.

Additionally, the Director artfully juxtaposes the perspectives of teenagers as they interact with a single polaroid image through the world of social media. This portrayal is informed by ethnological observations of how modern technology and digital platforms impact cultural norms, storytelling, and the way communities perceive and express their identities.

Throughout the film, the Director's approach becomes evident in their deep exploration of the communities and individuals' understanding of Identity, Memory, and Self, particularly in the face of adverse conditions. By drawing on ethnographic research methods, the Director ensures a nuanced and sensitive representation of the challenges faced by these communities.

Moreover, the film also sheds light on the Hope & Opportunities that exist for the adolescents within these communities, informed by the Director's analysis of the potential for cultural resilience and the transformative power of education and collective empowerment.

"The Art of Seeing" serves as a powerful mirror, reminding viewers of the fundamental human solidarity that transcends cultural boundaries. Through its compelling narrative the film instills a sense of empathy and connection, urging the audience to reflect on the shared human experience and the universality of the themes explored. By skillfully incorporating ethnological perspectives, the Director crafts a cinematic masterpiece that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage and understanding the multifaceted dynamics of human existence.

  • Sascha Klamp
    Director
  • Sascha Klamp
    Writer
  • Sascha Klamp
    Producer
  • Armen Mirakyan
    Director of Editing
  • Sascha Klamp
    DOP
  • Armen Mirakyan
    DOP
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Documentary, Social Justice, Social Fabric, Community
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 3, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    Armenia
  • Country of Filming:
    Armenia
  • Language:
    Armenian, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sascha Klamp

Sascha Klamp is a London-based photojournalist and documentary filmmaker who captures compelling stories of people and places around the world. With an insatiable curiosity and empathy for his subjects, Klamp highlights social impact and justice issues through his photography and films.

Klamp's passion for storytelling is rooted in his background in social anthropology and ethnology. He seeks to understand and illuminate the human condition across cultures. Though he spent years as an investor and entrepreneur, traveling globally for due diligence, Klamp found his calling as a photographer and filmmaker.

After completing his MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography with Distinction from the University of the Arts London, Klamp's work has taken him to frontier and emerging markets worldwide. He was sponsored by the James Foley Foundation to take a course on Stress Management and Civil Unrest to aid his work in challenging environments.

Klamp's photography and films put a human face on global social issues. He captures the struggles and triumphs of people confronting adversity with sensitivity and compassion. His work gives voice to those often unheard.

He further holds Executive MBA and LLM degrees and is married with three daughters.

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Director Statement

The film was inspired by my wife's Iranian/Armenian heritage and explores universal themes of memory and identity that resonate beyond the Armenian experience.

The narrative emerged from a single black-and-white photograph I took in December 2020 (at the height of Covid) during my first visit to Armenia. The image, captured inside a small local museum, depicts a wall of photos from past village events - weddings, funerals, commemorations. Though innocuous at the time, this photograph became instrumental in shaping the film, with the image itself acting as protagonist.

How do elders deal with memory, especially pre-Perestroika and Glasnost? How do youth engage with images to inform their identity? The concept of self also became important as we filmed - the diaspora plays a vital role for many cultures, but the Armenian diaspora in Los Angeles is uniquely significant. The film aims to spark an informed dialogue between diaspora families here and their peers in Armenia by asking them to consider: What if my family had stayed? It raises the question, "What would I do?"

After viewing an early cut, the communities featured - Khachik and Mets Masrik - graciously granted permission not only to screen the film, but to share their stories more broadly. As a non-Armenian, I feel humbled by their generous support.