Armenia and Azerbaijan on both sides of barbed wire
presented at RIDM from November 26 to December 2
Relatively quiet for almost three decades, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorny Karabakh region has claimed thousands of lives in recent months, in a further rise in violence between neighboring countries. The documentary explores this complex and little-known conflict through the eyes of the inhabitants of the region.
Selected at Hot Docs and DOXA, Under the Same Sunwill be presented for the first time in Quebec during the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), in the running for the National Feature Film Competition. The film is part of the “Surviving violence” section, available from November 26 to December 2, on the festival’s online platform.
Also during RIDM, filmmaker François Jacob will take part in a Dialogue RIDM event, where he will be invited to discuss the issues raised in his film with the filmmakers of the film Wandering, a Rohingya Story, also presented in the “Surviving violence” section. This discussion will take place on Thursday, November 26 at 7 p.m., live on Facebook.
Synopsis
Despite the 1994 ceasefire, there is still no real peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which continue to fight fiercely over the mountainous Nagorny Karabakh region. More than 25 years after the war, nationalistic passions seem as strong as ever. The litany of resentment and accusations continue to be met with denial in an ongoing dialogue of the deaf. With the restraint that comes with our foreigner’s gaze, Under the Same Sun offers an attentive ear, in search of understanding in these young countries with old wounds.
About the filmmaker
François Jacob dedicated his career to literature until he discovered the Kino network. He then directed short fictions before working on indie documentaries abroad. He subsequently directed A Moon of Nickel and Ice (Visions du Réel, Hot Docs – Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award, DOXA – Honorable Mention Coling-Low Award in 2017) and Under The Same Sun (Hot Docs, DOXA in 2020), set in the South Caucasus.
UNDER THE SAME SUN
Feature documentary. Québec, Canada. 2020. 97 minutes.
Original Armenian, Azerbaijan, Russian and English version with French or English subtitles
Directed by: François Jacob | Written by: François Jacob and Antoine Dion-Ortega | Cinematography: François Jacob | Editing: Jéricho Jeudy | Sound Recording: Hélène Magne and Simon Plouffe | Sound Design: Hélène Magne | Sound Mix: Isabelle Lussier | Music: Moses Baxter | Production: Les Films de l’Autre (François Jacob) | Distribution: Les Films du 3 Mars
Website: f3m.ca/en/film/under-the-same-sun
Facebook: facebook.com/Sousunmemesoleil
Instagram: instagram.com/sousunmemesoleil
Under the same sun will open in theaters in Spring 2021.
