Architects of Denial’ a Powerful Look at the Armenian Genocide


IMG. A scene from the documentary "Architects of Denial." (Architects of Denial LLC)

(LA Times).- The powerful documentary “Architects of Denial” posits that denying such world atrocities as the 1915-18 killings of Christian Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, which became the modern republic of Turkey, results only in history repeating itself, writes Gary Goldstein .

According to the author, producer-director of the “Architects of Denial” David Lee George persuasively backs up this theory by taking a frank look at the horrors of the Armenian genocide as well as the modern-day persecution of Armenians by forces in Turkey and its ally, Azerbaijan.

The movie also deftly places the systematic annihilation of Armenians within the context of latter-day genocides in such places as Sudan, Rwanda, Cambodia and Guatemala. Most dramatic, however, is the narrative’s chilling reminder of how a lack of accountability over the Armenian genocide led Adolf Hitler to believe that the world would also turn a blind eye to his “Final Solution.”

The documentary’s red carpet premiere took place on October 3 in Hollywood prior to its opening Friday. Former Superman Dean Cain, who serves as an executive producer on the new documentary, teamed with veteran talk-show host Montel Williams to help draw funding and attention to the project, he appeared with Williams and an array of stars and politicians, including US Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank at the film’s premiere.

“Neither Montel nor I are Armenian, but I was a history major at Princeton, and I’ve traveled the world and been to lots of places with Montel doing charity work for children and other charities,” Dean Cain said in an interview with Pasadena Weekly.

“We don’t agree politically on everything, but one thing we agree on is that genocide is wrong. This very first genocide of the 20th century has been swept under the rug, hidden and whitewashed by governments because no one wants to take responsibility,” Cain said.

“If you don’t acknowledge it, you allow it to continue, and the media ignores Turkey and Azerbaijan now with how they treat Armenia, plus there are atrocities in Sudan and persecution of Christians elsewhere.”

While Cain and Williams don’t appear in “Architects,” they are in the midst of producing and appearing in another documentary in which they have conducted on-camera interviews with Syrian Armenians, the Armenian president, foreign minister and prime minister. The  focus of that film is to show how the lives of many Armenian families have come full circle from fleeing into Syria nearly 100 years ago, only to flee back home now because of persecution from Muslim extremists in that nation.

“This is the first time anyone has put together one huge statement of how familial relations are affected by genocides and refugee situations around the planet,” says Cain. “[Wikileaks founder] Julian Assange has not given interviews on this subject, and we specifically ask congressmen on camera about their denial that the Armenian Genocide took place, after they’ve taken money from Turkish lobbyists.”

With more than 100 congressional sponsors of House Resolution 220 already lined up, Cain feels optimistic that his efforts will pay off soon with a vote. But he also notes that there will always be another place in need of some heroic help.

“This has gone on throughout history, but modern travel and technology has given us the tools to monitor and stop genocidal actions faster than before,” says Cain. “I’ve spent the last few days educating congressmen on the issue, and they seem receptive. We’ll see if we can get it done.”