Asadur

FILM SCREENING FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION WITH ADIL DEMIRCI

“Asadur: In Search of Lost Identity” is a documentary that sheds light on the deep trauma suffered by Armenian children during the Armenian Genocide. The focus is on Asadur, who grew up in Malatya and embarks on a belated search for his long-suppressed Armenian identity. Asadur learned of his origins as a child, but was forced to keep this knowledge a secret. It was only at an advanced age that he began to take a closer look at his roots.

The film is set in Malatya, where Asadur grew up and now finds the courage to confront his past. In doing so, he becomes a symbol of the ongoing struggle for identity that many Armenians still have to fight today. The documentary impressively shows how the continued denial of the genocide has left deep traces in the Armenian community and has had a lasting impact on the lives and culture of the people in Malatya. Asadur's journey also takes him into his family's history, in particular to his grandfather, who worked as an Armenian Catholic priest in the region before the genocide. His personal search for traces becomes a symbolic confrontation with the past and illustrates how strongly the genocide still influences individual and collective identity.

“Asadur: In Search of Lost Identity” examines the long-term consequences of the Armenian genocide on a personal and social level. The film is a powerful plea for the recognition of historical truth and emphasizes the need to preserve collective memories. It invites the audience to reflect on the past and its lingering effects in order to pave the way for reconciliation, understanding and a respectful approach to history.