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Shine On: Letter to Sos Sargsyan
By Eric Nazarian // September 26, 2013 in Featured, Headline, Opinion
Renowned Armenian actor, playwright, and political activist Sos
Sargsyan passed away today. He was 84. Below, The Armenian Weekly
features filmmaker Eric Nazarian's tribute to the legendary artist.
Beloved maestro Sos,
I am on the freeway in Los Angeles facing the northern mountains.
Yesterday, I was looking into a storyboard of your eyes for `Land of
Plenty,' the film we were going to make together years ago. I just
learned of your final rite of passage. You are 11 hours away from Los
Angeles. The flood of memory overtakes me now. I remember when I was
seven years old in Glendale. My late father Haik would bring home
video cassettes from the old country. Nahapet. Autumn Sun. Menk Enk
Mer Sarere. You were a mentor, a grandfather, a raconteur, a legend,
but always the common man. You were the living embodiment of Saroyan's
title, `My Heart is in the Highlands.' You were the old warrior and
quiet survivor who could sing like a hurricane. You were the face of
Armenian cinema for us. You are now entering the home where Frunzik's
smile greets you. Where Parajanov taps out another screenplay on an
old Soviet-era typewriter surrounded by puppets made of torn old
carpets... where Aram Khatchadourian is tuning up his piano next to a
quiet room echoing Komitas Vartabed's voice. Komitas was born 144
years ago today.
Yesterday, I was looking into a storyboard of your eyes for `Land of
Plenty,' the film we were going to make together years ago.
Today you crossed the finish line from this realm. They say there is
no such a thing as coincidences, just the fate carved on our
foreheads; the same forehead holding your droopy eyes that saw way
past a thousand miles; eyes that spoke the grace and beauty of life in
all its pathos, joy, heartache, glory, and quiet beauty. You were our
last pillar of Armenia's Golden Age of Cinema. You greeted all with
the peace of a grandfather. I remember open arms when I was still a
student. You were ready to return to the battleground of cinema and
stage, the always hungry artist and mentor to dreamers young and old.
I will miss walking into your office and seeing you smoking at your
desk, quietly reminiscing about Tarkovsky, Malian, and Shakespeare.
I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to reach the lights of the movie we
were going to make together. The final curtain fell but your light
shines eternal. Rest in peace Hayrig jan. With love and gratitude.
Your student forever,
Eric Nazarian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/09/26/shine-on-letter-to-sos-sargsyan/
From: A. Papazian
By Eric Nazarian // September 26, 2013 in Featured, Headline, Opinion
Renowned Armenian actor, playwright, and political activist Sos
Sargsyan passed away today. He was 84. Below, The Armenian Weekly
features filmmaker Eric Nazarian's tribute to the legendary artist.
Beloved maestro Sos,
I am on the freeway in Los Angeles facing the northern mountains.
Yesterday, I was looking into a storyboard of your eyes for `Land of
Plenty,' the film we were going to make together years ago. I just
learned of your final rite of passage. You are 11 hours away from Los
Angeles. The flood of memory overtakes me now. I remember when I was
seven years old in Glendale. My late father Haik would bring home
video cassettes from the old country. Nahapet. Autumn Sun. Menk Enk
Mer Sarere. You were a mentor, a grandfather, a raconteur, a legend,
but always the common man. You were the living embodiment of Saroyan's
title, `My Heart is in the Highlands.' You were the old warrior and
quiet survivor who could sing like a hurricane. You were the face of
Armenian cinema for us. You are now entering the home where Frunzik's
smile greets you. Where Parajanov taps out another screenplay on an
old Soviet-era typewriter surrounded by puppets made of torn old
carpets... where Aram Khatchadourian is tuning up his piano next to a
quiet room echoing Komitas Vartabed's voice. Komitas was born 144
years ago today.
Yesterday, I was looking into a storyboard of your eyes for `Land of
Plenty,' the film we were going to make together years ago.
Today you crossed the finish line from this realm. They say there is
no such a thing as coincidences, just the fate carved on our
foreheads; the same forehead holding your droopy eyes that saw way
past a thousand miles; eyes that spoke the grace and beauty of life in
all its pathos, joy, heartache, glory, and quiet beauty. You were our
last pillar of Armenia's Golden Age of Cinema. You greeted all with
the peace of a grandfather. I remember open arms when I was still a
student. You were ready to return to the battleground of cinema and
stage, the always hungry artist and mentor to dreamers young and old.
I will miss walking into your office and seeing you smoking at your
desk, quietly reminiscing about Tarkovsky, Malian, and Shakespeare.
I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to reach the lights of the movie we
were going to make together. The final curtain fell but your light
shines eternal. Rest in peace Hayrig jan. With love and gratitude.
Your student forever,
Eric Nazarian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/09/26/shine-on-letter-to-sos-sargsyan/
From: A. Papazian