Synopsis
At only 14 years old, Aurora lost everything during the horror of the Armenian genocide. Two years later, through luck and extraordinary courage, she escaped to New York, where her story became a media sensation. Starring as herself in Auction of Souls, an early Hollywood blockbuster, Aurora became the face of one of the largest charity campaigns in American history. With a blend of vivid animation, interviews with Aurora herself, and 18 minutes of surviving footage from her lost silent epic, Aurora’s Sunrise revives a forgotten story of survival.
A word from Tënk
The tragedies of refugees, increasingly numerous in our ruthless world, are heartbreaking. The feature film Aurora's Sunrise, an animated documentary depicting the fate of a survivor of the Armenian genocide, reminds us that the entire 20th century was marked by these tragedies - and that they continue into the 21st century… At the beginning of the last century, when she was only 14 years old, Aurora Mardiganian's life is turned upside down as the Armenian genocide unfolds. She seeks refuge in New York, where she attracts media attention, becoming somewhat of a celebrity. In 1919, she plays herself in Auction of Souls, one of the first Hollywood blockbusters as well as a propaganda film aimed at alerting the public about the Armenian genocide and raising funds. Aurora eventually realizes that she is being exploited. Through a combination of animation, video testimonies of Aurora herself (filmed towards the end of her life), and sequences from what remains of Auction of Souls - only 18 minutes of film, Aurora's Sunrise recalls the poignant and sadly forgotten story of Aurora. This film, which opened the Sommets du cinéma d'animation in 2023, is powerful and exceptional, rich in lessons, while also highlighting the documentary value of archives.
Marco de Blois
Artistic Director
Sommets du cinéma d’animation
