top of page
ARA THE HANDSOME AND SHAMIRAM

ARA THE HANDSOME AND SHAMIRAM

ARA THE HANDSOME AND SHAMIRAM

Short, Experimental,

Armenia

2026

Runtime, min

7

A choreographic film that reimagines the ancient legend of Ara the Handsome and Shamiram as a collision of desire, power, and fate. Through movement and cinematic space, love turns into conquest, death into suspension, and myth into a meditation on time and the impossibility of resurrection.
Hasmik Chakhmakhchyan

Director:

Hasmik Chakhmakhchyan

Film Reel
Film Reel
Film Reel

Selections and Awards:

REVIEWS:

Interesting experimental approach to history. It's a bit abstract in places, but the emotion comes through clearly. The music builds a great sense of tension. Definitely worth watching if you are interested in Caucasus folklore or dance films.

Antonio Fernandez Lopez

So intense! I didn't know the full story before, but you can feel Shamiram's pain and madness. The visual of Ara's body among the slain stayed with me. Beautiful and sad.

Javier Martinez Perez

I really liked the film. It’s a new legend for me, with a non-standard plot. The beauty of the dance and the imagery is stunning. Thank you!

Live Screenings Attendee

Beautiful and interesting! History in dance!

Live Screenings Attendee

I like most: Dancing part, casting

Live Screenings Attendee

The movie was dramatic, so is the idea. Expression with a ballet is interesting but lacks acting.

Live Screenings Attendee

A powerful retelling of our most tragic legend. Hasmik captures the eternal sorrow of Shamiram and the stoic beauty of Ara without needing a single word of dialogue, the bodies speak for themselves. The scene where the Aralez spirits attempt to revive him is haunting. It is rare to see Armenian mythology treated with such cinematic grace.

Sergei Nazaryan

Visually arresting. The costumes are magnificent! They feel both ancient and avant-garde. I loved how the choreography shifted from the violence of battle to the tenderness of grief. The narration helps guide the story, but honestly, the dancers' expressions were enough. A beautiful meditation on obsession and loss.

Eka Beridze

bottom of page