By Alexander Tagvoryan

YEREVAN, September 06–Famous French actor Gerard Depardieu arrived in Armenia with a two-day visit to take part in the international festival “Karot” (Nostalgia), which started on September 2 in Stepanakert (the capital of Nagorno Karabakh) and now continues in Yerevan.

On Saturday, September 6, Depardieu visited Tsitsernakaberd and laid a wreath at the “Eternal Flame,” commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

“Today I visited the memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and it impressed me greatly, just like other similar memorials, for example, the memorial of Yad Vashem (the museum-monument to Holocaust victims) in Israel,” said Depardieu to the Armenian journalists.

Gerard Depardieu also said that he had an intention to make a film about Armenia, the Armenians and the Armenian Genocide. This film will likely show some historical period in Armenia, and French actors of Armenian origin will take part in it.

According to him, Armenia with it exceptional and interesting geographical location and the Armenian people are very interesting. “I know that this country is focused on the future, and my goal is to show this Armenia, which is rapidly moving forward, but doesn’t forget about the old wounds,” he said.

Depardieu also said he knows much about the Armenian people, because he knows many Armenians that live in France now. “I know why and how they went there [to France] and what does the Genocide that took place in 1915 mean,” the actor said.

He also said that there are many famous actors and athletes with Armenian origin in France now. The most interesting thing for him was the fact that the French Armenians didn’t forget their traditions and language. “They speak both their native language and the language of the country that sheltered them,” said Depardieu.

According to Depardieu, his new film will tell about a young Armenian man who lives in France and has never seen Armenia. He has heard about his motherland from old stories only. In particular, he has heard a lot about the Armenian Genocide and the horrors that the Armenian people had to go through.

“Then, for example, this young man takes me to Armenia with him and begins to talk and to present Armenia as he sees it. This is enough to make a movie and to show today’s Armenia,” said Depardieu.

Yerevan Report