The first line of every Armenian fairy tale, There Was, There Was Not tells the collective myth of a homeland lost forever — and four women’s resistance to that loss.
“A deeply felt and beautifully made film.”
— Atom Egoyan
"A bold act of narrative resistance."
The Moveable Fest, Stephen Saito
“Poetically constructed... Emphasizes bravery and resilience in the face of the war while also serving as a time capsule of their lost, beloved homeland.”
Indiewire,
Susannah Gruder
"An observational heart pounder that explores the acts of preservation, mourning, and displacement."
The Brooklyn Rail,
Edward Frumkin
“There Was, There Was Not is a powerful tribute to a former country, and a frustrating illustration of a people’s dream turned nightmare.”
RogerEbert.com,
Robert Daniels
“Mkrtichian excels at revealing character as individuals. The women’s stories alert us to how fragile so many homelands continue to be."
Hyperallergic,
Eileen G’Sell
"Stunning — almost otherworldly."
Redefine Magazine,
Saelyx Finna