The Cut (2014)

In 1915 a man survives the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire, but loses his family, speech and faith. One night he learns that his twin daughters may be alive, and goes on a quest to find them.

Director:

Fatih Akin

Writers:

Fatih Akin, Mardik Martin (co-writer)

Stars:

Tahar Rahim, Simon Abkarian, Makram Khoury

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tahar Rahim	...	Nazaret Manoogian
Simon Abkarian	...	Krikor
Makram Khoury	...	Omar Nasreddin
Hindi Zahra	...	Rakel
Kevork Malikyan	...	Hagob Nakashian
Bartu Küçükçaglayan	...	Mehmet
Zein Fakhoury	...	Arsinée Manoogian (child)
Dina Fakhoury	...	Lucinée Manoogian (child)
Trine Dyrholm	...	Orphanage Headmistress
Arsinée Khanjian	...	Mrs. Nakashian
Akin Gazi	...	Hrant
Arevik Martirosyan	...	Ani
Moritz Bleibtreu	...	Peter Edelman
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adam Bousdoukos	...	Priest in Caravan
George Georgiou	...	Vahan

Storyline

This film is based on the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire 1915, which resulted in the forced migration and diaspora of the Armenian minority. One day a young family man, Nazaret Manoogian, gets deported by the Turkish authorities together with all the other Armenian men from his native village of Mardin. He becomes a forced laborer and only survives the mass murder by chance and an act of kindness, but loses his family, speech and faith. One night the devastated Nazaret learns that his daughters may still be alive and didn't die like his wife from starvation, violence or rape on death marches. Nazaret goes on a quest to find them and travels from his small village through the Mesopotamian deserts to the sea, always looking for clues that might lead him to his children. Nazaret's epic journey will take him from Asia to America, from the end to a new beginning...

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Plot Keywords:

genocide | armenian genocide | turkish history | armenian | ottoman empire | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Mystery | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Martin Scorsese was quoted as saying: "Fatih Akin's The Cut (2014) is a genuine, hand-made epic, of the type that people just don't make anymore. In other words, a deeply personal response to a tragic historical episode, that has great intensity, beauty and sweeping grandeur. This picture is very precious to me, on many levels."

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Connections

Features The Kid (1921)

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Soundtracks

Janoy
Traditional Armenian song from Van region, Author and Composer unknown
Janoy Choir: Gao Long, Kei Kondo, Harika Koroyasu, Radu Pustiu, Kazuki Sakai, Knut Schoch
A cappella by Arevik Martirosyan
All other vocals by Hindi Zahra

User Reviews

A long, epic journey full of suffering that never feels too long

I am generally a fan of Akin's movies and this one is not an exception. It was a very good film. The scenery is amazing, the acting is stellar, especially the main actor's mute yet very expressive performance. The story line is multi-faceted and very balanced: It does not assign guilt in just one direction. There are plenty of people who help on all sides (Armenians, Turks, Arabs, Americans), there are lots of people with personal weaknesses fighting for themselves first, including the hero, and there are barbarians everywhere also. And every page that turns gives us a new perspective on what has happened to Armenians back then.

This movie is not only important to confront Turkish society with its history, it is also very timely with the global refugee crisis. It humanizes and personalizes the experience of loss and death that those who survive war and genocide go through, and the suffering of those who have to flee home in general.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

Germany France Italy Russia Poland Canada Turkey Jordan

Language:

Armenian Arabic Turkish Kurdish Spanish English

Release Date:

16 October 2014 (Germany)

Also Known As:

The Cut

Filming Locations:

Cuba

Box Office

Budget:

EUR16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,327, 20 September 2015

Gross USA:

$28,066

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,232,140

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bombero International, Pyramide Productions, ARD Degeto Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1