Ararat
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Metascore
62 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 40 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Brent Carver, Charles Aznavour
  • Summary: The estranged members of a contemporary Armenian family are faced both with Turkey's denial of their catastrophic past and with their own complicated present. (Miramax)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    As ever, Egoyan assembles a devoted repertory cast, including Christopher Plummer.
  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    80
    Expresses with uncommon power the highly relevant issue of public indifference to genocide, which is especially well dramatized by a scene with Elias Koteas as an actor playing a Turk.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    80
    Until its final moments this almost great movie feels as if it's racing against itself in a neck-and-neck battle between its troubled heart and its egg-shaped head. The heart wins by a nose.
  4. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jon Strickland
    60
    Egoyan has always constructed dense ensemble films, and here again the writer-director hopes to reinforce his themes by piling layer upon layer of character. Unfortunately, the layers end up cluttering the story.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 24
  3. Negative: 5 out of 24
  1. TinaB
    7
    Okay ... this was, in fact, a generally good movie ... however, being Armenian myself, I felt as if though it somehow failed to educate those who STILL don't know the events that took place in 1915. There were so many different complications in the movie, and it made it confusing. The writer didn't clarify the association between some of the events, and what the symbolisms were and what they meant to Armenian people. Those who don't know the sacred Wedding Dance don't understand why that was such a degrading memory, and it could have been explained better. Also, the director knew what kind of audience he would be targeting and I felt as if though that whole sex scene between Celia and Raffi was completely and utterly inappropriate ... there was absolutely no point in that scene, at all. (It's kind of embarrassing when you're sitting next to an 80-year-old woman while that scene was in motion.) And what exactly did the marijuana have to do with anything? How did it affect the movie? I just don't know ... it IS better than nothing, and I am proud that finally a movie was made to educate others of my proud culture, but still ... the expectations were high, and I do feel failed ... if I somehow missed something and that is why my appreciation for the movie isn't as high as it should be, feel free to let me know... Thank You.… Expand
  2. TinaB
    6
    Okay ... this was, in fact, a generally good movie ... however, being Armenian myself, I felt as if though it somehow failed to educate those who STILL don't know the events that took place in 1915. There were so many different complications in the movie, and it made it confusing. The writer didn't clarify the association between some of the events, and what the symbolisms were and what they meant to Armenian people. Those who don't know the sacred Wedding Dance don't understand why that was such a degrading memory, and it could have been explained better. Also, the director knew what kind of audience he would be targeting and I felt as if though that whole sex scene between Celia and Raffi was completely and utterly inappropriate ... there was absolutely no point in that scene, at all. (It's kind of embarrassing when you're sitting next to an 80-year-old woman while that scene was in motion.) And what exactly did the marijuana have to do with anything? How did it affect the movie? I just don't know ... it IS better than nothing, and I am proud that finally a movie was made to educate others of my proud culture, but still ... the expectations were high, and I do feel failed ... if I somehow missed something and that is why my appreciation for the movie isn't as high as it should be, feel free to let me know... Thank You.… Expand

See all 24 User Reviews

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