Amerikatsi
| Amerikatsi | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael A. Goorjian |
| Written by | Michael A. Goorjian |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Ghasem Ebrahimian |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Andranik Berberyan |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Variance Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | Armenia |
| Languages |
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| Box office | $409,476[2][3] |
Amerikatsi (Armenian: Ամերիկացի, romanized: Amerikats'i) is a 2022 Armenian comedy-drama film written, edited, directed by, and starring Michael A. Goorjian. The film is about an Armenian-American who repatriates to the Armenian SSR after World War II and ends up in a Soviet prison.[4][5]
The film premiered at Woodstock Film Festival in 2022, winning the Best Narrative Feature award.[6][7] It received positive reviews. Armenian Film Society held an additional premiere for the film at its 2023 Armenian Film Festival in Glendale, California.[8] It was also selected as the Armenian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[9]
Synopsis
Armenian-American repatriate Charlie Bakhchinyan is arrested for the absurd crime of wearing a tie in Soviet Armenia. Alone in solitary confinement, he soon discovers that he can see inside of an apartment building near the prison from his cell window. By watching the native Armenian couple living in the apartment, day in and day out, Charlie soon discovers everything he returned to Armenia for.
Amerikatsi is about hope and the art of survival in the worst of conditions.
Cast
- Michael A. Goorjian as Charlie Bakhchinyan[10]
- Hovik Keuchkerian as Tigran[11]
- Nelli Uvarova as Sona[12]
- Mikhail Trukin as Dmitry[13]
- Narine Grigoryan as Ruzan[14]
- Jean-Pierre Nshanian as Warden Sargisyan[15]
Reception
Amerikatsi won the Best Narrative Feature award at the Woodstock Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Hamburg Film Festival, and the Best Narrative Feature at the Beloit International Film Festival.[16][17]
It holds a 89% "Fresh" rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10.[18] Alan Ng of Film Threat, who gave the film a positive score for example, argued that the story brings "humor and levity to a solemn subject."[19] Film critic Richard Propes says Amerikatsi is a "film of tremendous spirit and hope."[20]
Variety called it “gentle, humane and quietly gripping,” noting the film’s warmth and Goorjian’s nuanced portrayal.[21] ScreenDaily praised its balance of humor and political history, describing it as “an affecting and unexpectedly uplifting story.”[22] The Armenian outlet CivilNet noted the film’s cultural resonance and authenticity, especially in its depiction of diaspora identity and all-Armenian production. [23]
Accolades
| Year | Award / Festival | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Pomegranate Film Festival | Audience Award | Amerikatsi | Won | [24] |
| 2023 | Woodstock Film Festival | Best Narrative Feature | Amerikatsi | Won | [25] |
| 2023 | Hamburg Film Festival | Critics' Choice Award (Michel Award nomination noted) | Amerikatsi | Won | [26] |
| 2023 | Beloit International Film Festival | Best Narrative Feature | Amerikatsi | Won | [27] |
| 2023 | Salento International Film Festival | Best Actor | Michael A. Goorjian | Won | [28] |
| 2023 | International Oriental Film Festival of Geneva (FIFOG) | Silver FIFOG Award – Feature Film Competition | Amerikatsi | Won | [29] |
| 2024 | Anahit National Film Awards (Armenia) | Best Feature Film | Amerikatsi | Won | [30] |
| 2024 | Anahit National Film Awards | Best Actress | Narine Grigoryan | Won | [31] |
| 2024 | Anahit National Film Awards | Best Music | Andranik Berberyan | Won | [32] |
| 2024 | Anahit National Film Awards | Best Production Design | Amerikatsi | Won | [33] |
See also
- List of submissions to the 96th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Armenian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ "Film Guide". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "Amerikatsi (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ "Amerikatsi (2023)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ "Review by Alan Ng". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Film Guide". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "'Last Flight Home,' 'As Far as They Can Run' Take Top Nonfiction Honors at Woodstock Film Festival 2022 by Addie Morfoot". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Award Winners from the 23rd Annual Woodstock Film Festival". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Armenian Film Society announces program for inaugural Armenian Film Festival". Armenian Weekly. August 29, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ Patrick Frater, Leo Barraclough, Ellise Shafer, Elsa Keslassy, John Hopewell, Naman Ramachandran, Nick Vivarelli, K.J. Yossman, Anna Marie de la Fuente (17 October 2023). "International Oscar Race". Variety. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Review by Alan Ng". Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "Review by Christopher Machell". Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "Review by Alan Ng". Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "Review by Christopher Machell". Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "Review by Alan Ng". Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "Review by Mike Massie". Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "'Last Flight Home,' 'As Far as They Can Run' Take Top Nonfiction Honors at Woodstock Film Festival 2022 by Addie Morfoot". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Award Winners from the 23rd Annual Woodstock Film Festival". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Amerikatsi". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Fandango Media.
- ^ "Review by Alan Ng". Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ ""Amerikatsi" Finding Success on Fest Circuit". Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Adlakha, Siddhant (2023-12-28). "'Amerikatsi' Review: A Soulful Armenian Comedy-Drama About Cultural Yearning". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ Baughan, Nikki. "'Amerikatsi': Review". Screen. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ Civilnet (2022-09-10). "Amerikatsi: An all-Armenian film about the diaspora, Soviet Union and more". CIVILNET. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ^ "Pomegranate Film Festival Winners". National Cinema Center of Armenia. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "2023 Woodstock Film Festival Award Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Hamburg Film Festival 2023 Awards". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Beloit International Film Festival Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "SIFF 2023 Award Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "FIFOG 2023 Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Anahit Awards 2024 Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Anahit Awards 2024 Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Anahit Awards 2024 Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ "Anahit Awards 2024 Winners". Retrieved 2025-02-26.