Pepo (film)

1935 film

9 October 1935 (1935-10-09)

Running time

88 min.CountrySoviet UnionLanguageArmenian

Pepo (Armenian: Պեպո) is a 1935 Soviet drama film based on Gabriel Sundukyan's 1876 play of the same name, scripted and directed by Hamo Beknazarian, with music composed by Aram Khachaturian. Considered the 'most outstanding' film in Soviet cinema before the outbreak of World War II,^[1] the film has gained international recognition and has come to represent Armenian culture abroad.^[2]

Plot

Set in 19th century Tiflis, the film details the day-to-day life of a poor but honest Armenian fisherman Pepo (Hrachia Nersisyan) who opposes a cunning trader Arutin Kirakozovich Zimzimov (Avet Avetisyan), who has robbed the former by trickery.^[3] The story comes to a conclusion of sorts when Pepo falls in love.^[4]

Cast

Hrachia Nersisyan – Pepo
Tatyana Makhmuryan – Kekel, his sister
David Malyan – Kakuli, a friend
Avet Avetisyan – Arutin Kirakozovich Zimzimov
Hambartsum Khachanyan – Darcho, merchant
Hasmik – Shushan
Grigor Avetyan – Giko
Nina Manucharyan – Natel
Armen Gulakyan – Duduli, a friend
N. Gevorgyan – Efemia
Gurgen Gabrielyan – Kinto
A. Kefchiyan – Pichkhul
H. Vanyan – Margurit
M. Garagash – Gevorg, clerk
Vladimir Barsky – Judge
V. Bagratuni – Samson
M. Beroyan – Darcho's mother
M. Jrpetyan – Gossiper

Images

Pepo's statue in Yerevan
Pepo
Pepo and Zimzimov
Kekel

References

^ Tatiana Egorova. Soviet Film Music (Contemporary Music Studies). (London: Routledge, 1997), p. 54
^ "Armenian cinema, 1935". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
^ "Pepo (1935)". Retrieved 11 August 2007.
^ "Pepo:Synopsis". Retrieved 11 August 2007.^{[permanent dead link]}