Armenian cinema arose fragmentarily. Due to the fact that the state was part of the USSR, it was part of its artistic history, almost all the works of outstanding artists were included in the historical annals of national and Soviet cinema. Among them is the film “The Blue Lion”, which is an adaptation of the story of Y. Perov “Saint Mauritius”, co-written with V. Stepanov and included in the collection “Indirect evidence”.
Short storyline
A detective film was shot by the outstanding cinematographer Genrikh Rubenovich Markaryan, who is known to the public for his films Guys of the Music Team, Hard Rock, Pharmacy at the Crossroads, Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee, and the short film Four in One Skin. The painting "Blue Lion" was one of the last creative works of the filmmaker, in which he acted as a director and author of the script.
The narrative is based on the story of an unsuccessful attempt to rob two thieves specializing in the theft of art and antiques. Criminals raid the home of a collector-professor in the hope of obtaining a rare stamp called the “Saint Mauritius”, the value of which is fabulous. However, the attackers are not able to implement the plan, as the owner is in the house. To escape from punishment they have to take him hostage.
Criticism
The main feature of the structure of the narration of the film “Blue Lion” is that the director focuses more on the causes of the crime than on the process of disclosing and punishing the perpetrators. The more the atmosphere grows hot and the pace of events accelerates, the more Henrik Markaryan pays attention to the personal principle, the analysis of the characteristics and inner world of the main characters.
The action takes place in a chamber, limited environment, teeming with everyday details and minor conflicts between central characters.
From an aesthetic point of view, the film did not revolutionize cinema, but it has a special style that, according to critics, conveys the specific atmosphere of that time period. The picture is an alternative way of artistic expression of its creators about the social reality of the late 70s.
Actors and roles
The main characters of the work of Markaryan were:
- jeweler - whose role was played by the Soviet Armenian theater and cinema artist, teacher, reader Sos Sargsyan;
- Gayane - actress of Yerevan Youth Theater Anaida Ghukasyan;
- Housekeeper - People's Artist of the USSR Varduhi Varderesyan;
- Monter - People's Artist of Armenia Armen Santrosyan;
- artist - Armenian actress Alisa Kaplandjyan;
- professor - actor of the Yerevan guest theater of musical comedy after A. Paronyan, Henry Aslanyan;
- precinct - artist of Yerevan Academic Theater G. Sundukyan S. Ajabkhanyan.