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Ararat is a 2002 Canadian drama film directed by Atom Egoyan. The film is based on the Armenian Genocide and explores the making of a film about the genocide. The movie revolves around Armenian-Canadian filmmaker Raffi (David Alpay), who is working on a film about the Armenian Genocide. Raffi's mother Ani (Arsinée Khanjian) is an art historian who is obsessed with the story of Edward Saroyan (Charles Aznavour), a famous Armenian painter who died in a Soviet labor camp.

The film shows flashbacks of Saroyan's life in Armenia and his relationship with a Turkish woman named Celia (Marie-Josée Croze). Saroyan's story is woven together with that of Raffi's family, including his mother, sister, and estranged father (Bruce Greenwood). Raffi's father is an actor who is cast in the film as a Turkish general responsible for the genocide. As Raffi works on the film, he is constantly confronted with questions about his identity as an Armenian and the legacy of the genocide.

The film takes place in several different locations, including Toronto, where Raffi and his family live, and Turkey, where parts of the film are shot. The movie also includes footage from actual historical events, including interviews with survivors of the Armenian Genocide and footage of the Turkish government denying the genocide ever occurred.

Ararat is a complex and multi-layered film that explores the themes of identity, memory, and the power of art. The movie is filled with symbolism and metaphor, such as the painting that Saroyan creates depicting the genocide, which becomes a central image throughout the film.

The performances in the movie are stellar, particularly Charles Aznavour as Edward Saroyan. Aznavour brings a quiet dignity and depth to the character, and his scenes with Marie-Josée Croze as Celia are some of the most poignant in the film. Arsinée Khanjian is also excellent as Raffi's mother Ani, whose obsession with Saroyan's story leads her down a dark path.

The film is beautifully shot by Egoyan, with a muted color palette and haunting imagery. The use of archival footage adds a sense of authenticity to the movie and highlights the importance of remembering the past in order to avoid repeating it in the future.

Overall, Ararat is a powerful and thought-provoking film that tackles weighty subject matter with grace and nuance. It is a testament to the power of cinema to expose hidden truths and explore the complexities of the human experience.

Ararat is a 2002 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 62.