‘There Was, There Was Not’ Team Discuss How Their Artsakh War Documentary Offers “Resistance To Erasure”

Filmmaker Emily Mkrtichian's documentary 'There Was, There Was Not' sheds light on the experiences of women in post-conflict Artsakh, a region caught in the crossfire between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This project, which evolved from a personal exploration into a powerful commentary on war and resilience, highlights the importance of storytelling in preserving history and identity. By focusing on the lives of these women, the film not only documents their struggles but also serves as a form of resistance against the erasure of their narratives, making it a significant contribution to the discourse on conflict and memory.