Seasons of the Year

It begins with the spring thaw, and the swirling water of a wildly flowing river. Shadows struggle with all their might against the water so as not to be swallowed up. Then we see protracted clouds, quickly making their way over the Armenian mountains. In his final collaboration with cinematographer Mikhail Vartanov, Artavazd Pelechian films an isolated farming community in its relentless fight against the elements. The farmers herd sheep and work their land all year long. In the spring, they climb into the mountains with their herds, and at the end of the summer they harvest the hay, which falls down in a dusty avalanche of hay bales. In the winter, they make their way through the snow, sheep in tow. These farmers are practicing the art of survival, which also becomes evident in the sparse title cards: "He begins to grow sleepy," and under the pouring rain, "Do you think that it’s better anywhere else?" This is humanity, trapped in a brutish, but also beautiful reality. With a melodic rhythm of camera, editing and bittersweet classical music, Pelechian and Vartanoc raise their film to the level of a true symphony - the symphony of our existence. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)