As part of the “Alpha Sobesednik” podcast, Alpha News editor-in-chief Tigran Kocharyan sat down with animator and artist David Saakyants.
The conversation opened with the story of his professional choices. Saakyants spoke about the influence his parents had on the path he chose, as well as his years of involvement in KVN, recalling the first joke he ever wrote and explaining whether that experience helped or, on the contrary, hindered his later work.
One of the most compelling topics was his account of his years of military service, the experience of being drafted and the difficulties of that period of life. Saakyants shared memories of the Artsakh war, including episodes from the liberation of Shushi. He emphasized that life has changed, and there is no longer any room in it for romanticism.
The conversation also touched on the history of the Saakyants family name, the role of Arshavir Saakyants, and an attempt to answer the question of whether all members of the Saakyants family gravitate toward the same field. David Saakyants recounted the story of how his father’s masterworks were brought to life.
He spoke about his relationship with the Union of Cinematographers, the reasons he left it, and the topic of emigration among the Armenian intelligentsia.
An important part of the discussion centered on how to ensure that the voices of thoughtful people are heard, and whether any platform exists for that purpose. The results of the 2021 elections and public attitudes toward the authorities were also discussed.
Saakyants commented on Prime Minister Pashinyan’s statements about peace and their contradiction with the real state of the world.
At the close of the conversation, Saakyants stressed that those who live and create in this country must do everything possible to help Armenia find its way out of the current situation. He underscored the need for a change of government and answered the question of whether he would choose the same path if given the chance to return to childhood and start over.
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