If we try to compare this portrayal of Komitas with the protagonist in Vigen Chaldranyan's Alter Ego (2015), who is also mythologized throughout the film, we would notice some clear differences. Chaldranyan uses Komitas as a ghost, who is either pursued or who himself pursues the film's other characters. The director continuously questions allegations about the priest. Meanwhile in his film, Nshanian presents his point of view about Komitas the person. Unlike Chaldranyan, Arman Nshanian makes no attempt to unravel the mystery of Komitas' silence, which is present in Songs of Solomon even before the priest’s appearance in the psychiatric hospital.
Another interesting example of presenting the memory of the Genocide with a pivotal artist at its center is Atom Egoyan. His Ararat tells the story of another great Armenian intellectual, Arshile Gorky, but uses an alternative way to weave the narrative. Despite the fact that no hard facts about Gorky's biography are mentioned in the film (and in general, everything in Ararat is subjected to constant questioning), Egoyan tries to explore Gorky through his characters, by projecting Gorky’s connection with his mother onto his two contemporary protagonists - Ani and Raffi - and their relationship. The director also uses the same method to discuss historical facts.
All the atrocities and barbarities that took place during the Genocide are movies within a movie in Ararat, filmed by the "famous director E. Saroyan" (played by Charles Aznavour). This way, Egoyan absolves himself of the responsibility of presenting or distorting historical facts. Whereas Saroyan, representing a generation of Genocide survivors, who perceives reality only on the level of emotions, is free to not care for historical accuracy in his own film, by ignoring the fact that Ararat is not visible from Van. How can a film about the Genocide not include Ararat?
In a sense, Songs of Solomon is similar to Edward Saroyan's film within a film, which represents the emotional reflection of intergenerational horror stories on screen. Nshanian does not try to insert any historical accuracy in the film; in one of the first scenes, he puts forward the false argument that, until the Hamidian massacres, Armenians and Turks lived in peace and harmony. Meanwhile, in the following shots, Turkish children address Solomon and Sona with racist expressions and insults. All of the director's efforts to appear objective are limited by the “progressive Turkish” characters who resist the atrocities committed against Armenians but can do nothing about their bloodthirsty leaders. Arman Nshanian himself portrays the role of one of these leaders, Osman.
Adhering to the philosophy of Orientalism, the director has tried to recreate the colors of the Ottoman Empire - the everyday life of citizens, the Eastern market, the costumes - but the result is superficial and sterile. References to famous works of literature and film are made in the movie; however, they do not serve their purpose. Some of the scenes shot in the monastery are reminiscent of Parajanov's The Color of Pomegranates, but instead of enriching the visual experience of the film, they highlight the commonness of Komitas' character - in contrast to Parajanov's Sayat-Nova. The title of the film, on the other hand, refers to the biblical book, Song of Songs (sometimes also called Songs of Solomon), and to Tony Morrison's novel, Song of Solomon, but having no general connection with either of these works makes this intertextual association almost meaningless. Komitas' music is played throughout the film, but except for the performance of "Shushiki," an audience who is unfamiliar with the works of the priest is not introduced to their creator.
The cinematography of the film is also very contradictory. The director of photography, Anthony Rickert-Epstein, who has a large repertoire of thrillers, has invested all of his experience in Songs of Solomon. Slow motion scenes and sound effects accompanied by zoom shots make the mysterious veil around Komitas’ character even messier. The computer graphics of the film are also weak, and often distracting. The applied effects (and their recurrence) are noticeable even to the naked eye.
Songs of Solomon is Arman Nshanian's first full-length directorial debut. Prior to this, he had shot one of the music videos for the band System of a Down and acted in a number of films. Nshanian is also an operatic tenor and has performed beautiful renditions of Komitas.
The film was planned to hit the big screen in April 2020, ahead of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. However, due to the outbreak of the pandemic and the closure of movie theaters, it is being presented to the Armenian public a year later, now in a post-war context. Watching the film amid a new reality, when we are feeling an urgent need to review our historical trajectory, Songs of Solomon comes across as more than outdated. For nearly a century, we have been told about dignified and hard-working Armenians who were killed by bloodthirsty Turks, but have not been offered any exit plan - except from self-pity and infinite pain that is passed down from one generation to another. The same mistake is being made today. Instead of looking for and correcting mistakes, and becoming conscious of our own guilt, we are living and experiencing the same pain of loss; we are afraid of moving forward. Songs of Solomon and all similar films should serve as an example for us to re-evaluate the past and to find the strength to live again. After watching the film, we should not feel sorry for ourselves, but continue to preserve what we have and to create anew. Unfortunately, this film didn’t take us there.
