Amasi Petrossi Martirosyan

Amasi Petrossi Martirosyan (1897–1971) was an Armenian film director, screenwriter, and actor, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Armenian and Soviet cinema. Born on 18 April 1897 in Yerevan, he spent much of his career at the Armenfilm Studios, where he worked first as an actor and assistant director before becoming one of Armenia's leading filmmakers. Martirosyan's films explored social issues, rural life, Armenian literature, and folklore, reflecting the profound social transformations of the early Soviet period. Among his most important works are: Kurdy-Yezidy (1932/33) – one of the earliest films portraying the lives of the Yezidi Kurds in Soviet Armenia. Gikor (1934) – an adaptation of Hovhannes Tumanyan's classic novella, regarded as one of the masterpieces of Armenian cinema. Kaj Nazar (*Brave Nazar, 1940) – a film adaptation of a beloved Armenian folk tale. Kurdy-Yezidy (1932/33) With *Kurdy-Yezidy*, Martirosyan created one of the earliest films dedicated to the lives of the Yezidi Kurds. Set in a Kurdish village in Soviet Armenia, the film follows the establishment of a collective farm (*kolkhoz*) while documenting the social and cultural transformations brought about during the early Soviet era. Blending documentary observation with fictional storytelling, the film depicts everyday village life, literacy campaigns, changing social structures, and the role of women within a traditional community. Although produced within the framework of Soviet cultural policy, Kurdy-Yezidy remains an invaluable historical and ethnographic document. Its authentic locations, realistic details, and sensitive portrayal of Kurdish rural life make it a unique contribution to both Armenian and Kurdish film history. Legacy In addition to directing, Martirosyan appeared as an actor in several landmark Armenian films, including Namus (1925), Zare (1926), and Khaspush (1928). His contribution to Armenian cinema earned him the honorary title People's Artist of the Armenian SSR as well as several state decorations. Today, Amasi Martirosyan is remembered as one of the founders of Armenian cinema. Kurdy-Yezidy remains an important cinematic testimony to the history and cultural heritage of the Yezidi Kurds and occupies a unique place in the history of Kurdish representation on screen.