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"GRANDMA'S TATTOOS" SCREENED IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
17:20 19.06.2013
Grandma's Tattoos
On Monday 17th June, 2013, the European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) co-organized the "Grandma's Tattoos"
movie screening in the presence of Swedish - Armenian director Suzanne
Khardalian in the European Parliament. The screening was co-hosted
by two Swedish Members of the Euroepan Parliament, Carl Schlyter
(Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance) and Cecilia Wikstrom
(Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe).
120 attendants were present - a very diverse audience of old and young
women and men. After the Welcoming and short introduction of EAFJD
President Kaspar Karampetian, "Grandma's Tattoos" was screened. The
audience was electrified, and emotionally touched, from the subject
matter - of Armenian girls and women abducted and enslaved during
the Armenian Genocide, and marked by tattoos as the properties of
their captors.
After the screening, MEP Cecilia Wikstrom, and director Suzanne
Khardalian responded to the questions of the audience. Questions
about the violation of women in wartime, and not only, the shame and
humiliation carried with it. MEP Cecilia Wikstrom mentioned that
"a woman's body is a battleship" and expressed her concerns about
violated women, and that the EU Parliament should send a strong
message against it.
Director Suzanne Khardalian informed the audience that her aunt Lucia
- main character in the documentary - did not have the chance to see
the movie, since she passed away before the completion of the movie.
However, the director feels "lucky", only because a significant number
of Armenian women had already been interviewed by her, as if they were
"waiting to tell their stories before leaving this world". Khardalian
mentioned that like her grandmother, "I also feel violated and ashamed
because the stigma of rape passed on from generation to generation".
Co-host of the screening, MEP Carl Schlyter, in his closing remarks
mentioned that the fate of women, especially during, mass crimes,
during both World Wars, and even before and after shall be told to the
coming generations, and that we shall be vigilant against such acts,
as to never be repeated again.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/19/grandmas-tattoos-screened-in-the-european-parliament/
17:20 19.06.2013
Grandma's Tattoos
On Monday 17th June, 2013, the European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) co-organized the "Grandma's Tattoos"
movie screening in the presence of Swedish - Armenian director Suzanne
Khardalian in the European Parliament. The screening was co-hosted
by two Swedish Members of the Euroepan Parliament, Carl Schlyter
(Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance) and Cecilia Wikstrom
(Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe).
120 attendants were present - a very diverse audience of old and young
women and men. After the Welcoming and short introduction of EAFJD
President Kaspar Karampetian, "Grandma's Tattoos" was screened. The
audience was electrified, and emotionally touched, from the subject
matter - of Armenian girls and women abducted and enslaved during
the Armenian Genocide, and marked by tattoos as the properties of
their captors.
After the screening, MEP Cecilia Wikstrom, and director Suzanne
Khardalian responded to the questions of the audience. Questions
about the violation of women in wartime, and not only, the shame and
humiliation carried with it. MEP Cecilia Wikstrom mentioned that
"a woman's body is a battleship" and expressed her concerns about
violated women, and that the EU Parliament should send a strong
message against it.
Director Suzanne Khardalian informed the audience that her aunt Lucia
- main character in the documentary - did not have the chance to see
the movie, since she passed away before the completion of the movie.
However, the director feels "lucky", only because a significant number
of Armenian women had already been interviewed by her, as if they were
"waiting to tell their stories before leaving this world". Khardalian
mentioned that like her grandmother, "I also feel violated and ashamed
because the stigma of rape passed on from generation to generation".
Co-host of the screening, MEP Carl Schlyter, in his closing remarks
mentioned that the fate of women, especially during, mass crimes,
during both World Wars, and even before and after shall be told to the
coming generations, and that we shall be vigilant against such acts,
as to never be repeated again.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/19/grandmas-tattoos-screened-in-the-european-parliament/