‘There Was, There Was Not’ Review – Our Stories Must Never Disappear

There is a certain flexibility necessary to create a documentary. Unlike narrative features, there is no script. There may be a plan at the outset, but often, real-life circumstances change the story one set out to tell. Unlike directors of other films, the documentarian cannot rant and rave about things not going to plan. The goal should always be to capture truth, regardless of the path that it takes. And this is exactly what Emily Mkrtichian seems to come up against during the filming of There Was, There Was Not.

This film begins as the story of four women living in Artsakh, which is a territory that is unrecognized as a country. There is a long history of struggle there, which is detailed at the outset of Mkrtichian’s documentary. One cannot help but assume that this lack of surety in a national identity would trickle down to the everyday lives of the people there. We follow four women who are finding their way in a post-war world. There is a gentleness and an age to this world that we are shown, but it is certainly not untouched by modernity. The title of the film, which is how they begin their stories (instead of once upon a time), eventually becomes a term filled with both sadness and hope.

A film that was designed to show women’s struggles and movement after conflict is suddenly placed within the bounds of a new (and old) war. Through Mkrtichian’s hard work in building trust over several years, we are let in. As their neighborhoods are shelled, their lives are thrown into upheaval, and what is important is irrevocably changed. The time jumps that the director employs are wildly effective in seeing the drastic nature of these changes. Sose, who dreams of being an Olympic Judo champion, is now conscripted into the armed services. Gayane, a mother who is fighting for women’s rights, is forced to reconsider and protect her home. Siranush, who has political aspirations, is providing help on the ground level. Svet, who has spent time digging for mines from the past wars, is forced to come to terms with considerable loss and worry.

Despite the high drama surrounding the story, the director does an incredibly admirable job of keeping the film focused on the four women, while also keeping them separate. It might have been easier to follow four closely interconnected women, but this allows their stories to unfold with as little intersection as possible. And with this, their story is also the story of Artsakh, which is likely one completely foreign to many audiences. We may have heard rumblings of the Armenian genocide in World War I, but that is likely where the knowledge ends. This film, of course, provides more modern information about this land, which is unrecognized, but also about the relatable struggles of these women. There is a universality in wanting equality, striving for greatness, providing for families, and wanting clear representation.

As the war rages on and these women desperately try to claw their lives back together, it becomes clear that each has a calling. Even when the worst happens, they do find a way to manage to find their own ways to follow their individual passions. How is one a fighter, a representative for women’s rights, a servant of the people, and a caretaker after everything falls apart? The resilience shown on screen without fanfare is both enlightening and upsetting. What these women must go through in order to live full lives (or even survive) is more than most of us can imagine. And yet, they continue. Through laughter, tears, joy, and torment, they manage. The film truly does show us the meaning behind “there was, there was not.” The stories that we tell are not just enjoyable; they are necessary. The lessons that are handed down allow people to survive, thrive, and last beyond our mortal limits. Much like Artsakh, these stories both exist and do not. Even if it is not on any map and has been overrun by invaders, the land and the tales still live strongly in these women. And what an honor it has been to witness it, even from a distance.

There Was, There Was Not is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Watermelon Pictures.