Diyarbekir - Dialect

"Our Names"


This film is a narration of a short story, Mer Anounneru [Our Names], from Mgrdich Margosian’s book Gavur Mahallesi [Infidel Quarters]. The film was produced by Silvina Der-Meguerditchian.
 
Using old photographs and her artistic talent, Silvina has successfully created a bridge between the Diyarbakir of the 1940s and 1950s, in which Margosian lived, and the Diyarbakir of the pre-Genocide era, which was home to a much more established and much more vibrant Armenian community.
 
The short story is read by renowned actress Arsinée Khanjian. Her narration endows the film with a mystical quality. Arsinée, too, is the descendant of Diyarbakir/Dikranagerd Armenians, who spoke their native dialect even after surviving the Genocide and settling down first in Lebanon, and later across the world.
 
The Houshamadyan editorial board would like to thank all those who contributed to the production of this film. We would especially like to thank Ardashes Margosian and Project SAVE, as well as the Gulbenkian Foundation, who are the principal sponsors of this project.