Customer Reviews

The Armenian Genocide - The Critically Acclaimed PBS Documentary by Emmy Award Winner Andrew Goldberg

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have watched this documentary several times. What is striking to me, and what I specifically looked for in it, is corroboration of the Armenian Genocide by third parties, by definition, not Armenians and not Turks. We see quoted in this documentary confirmation from the Germans and the Americans (even the New York Times) at the time of the genocide that the genocide did indeed occur, that it was orchestrated at the highest levels of the "Young Turk" regime. This documentary does cover the history of Ottoman Armenian rebellion and separatist movement, and that those Armenians did kill Turks. But whatever debate you want to have about this rebellion, nothing justifies genocide.

Nothing justifies genocide. Nothing. It is documented fact that the Armenian genocide occurred as told by multiple foreign (ie, non-Armenian, non-Turkish) observers. There is no "other side", just like there is no "other side" rebutting the Jewish Holocaust, or for that matter the genocide practiced by the US Government in systematically destroying Native Americans. It happened. It is well documented.

Even if a few Armenian guerrillas were helping the Russians, even if the Ottoman Armenians had no legitimate claim to independence from the Ottoman empire, none of it justifies the Ottomans documented, systematic murder of 1,000,000 Armenian civilians or their stealing Armenian property from cleansed towns and villages.

What I don't understand is the bitter defensiveness of modern day Turks (ie, post 1923) for the war crimes committed by a Turkish regime that the new Turkish government repudiated back in 1923!

I say to the Turkish deniers on this site: why do you feel that you have to defend the Turks of an era repudiated by your own 1923 Turkish government itself? I don't get it. The Turks of 1915 are not you! You owe them no loyalty.

As an American citizen whose ancestors go back to the founding of America, I repudiate my own ancestors who were slave holders and who committed genocide against the Native Americans. I owe them no loyalty or defense. It's that simple. Those American settlers did not have to integrate themselves through genocide. You modern day Turks must do the same with respect to the crimes committed by your ancestors.

I have no ties to either the Armenian or Turkish community.

This was an excellent film, but it shouldn't be the last stop in someone's investigation of the genocide that occurred in 1915. Rather, it's an excellent beginning, because it presents the issue comprehensively, and raises questions for further investigation.

The film does an outstanding job of portraying the human suffering caused by the genocide. Using photos from the time (some are quite graphic, be forewarned), plus written accounts (including from American diplomatic officials throughout the territory where the genocide occurred), it convincingly portrays the cruelty and barbarity perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks against the civilian population. Clearly, something horrible was perpetrated by the Ottoman government against approximately 1,000,000 ethnic Armenians, subjects of that Ottoman government.

It suffers slightly in trying to explain "why" it happened, and in convincing the viewer that the slaughter meets the modern-day definition of "genocide." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide)

I say it fails because it does not attempt to address any of modern-day Turkey's rebuttals to the accusations leveled against it by the world community. It does not address in any detail supposed collaboration by Armenians with Russian forces by the ethnic Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire (note, the Armenians were just a long-persecuted ethnic group member of the Empire -- 100's of thousands were killed by Ottomans in the late 1800's, as well), nor does it address Enver's insane, foolhardy campaign against Russia in the Caucasus earlier.

(Editorial comment: even IF a few Armenian guerillas were helping the Russians, does it give the Ottomans the right: 1.) to murder 1,000,000 civilians 2.) to kill elderly, women, and children with extreme brutality 3.) to steal Armenian property from cleansed towns and villages 4.) to engage in a systematic campaign of eliminating ethnic Armenians from Anatolia?)

It must be noted, the makers of the film gave the government of Turkey a chance to present its side of the story, but the Government chose not to participate. The footage in the film of the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. before the U.S. Congress in 1990 is quite damaging to the Turkish case, as is a cold, heartless interview with an official Turkish historian, who notes that the drama of 1915 can cause someone to cry, but it has no significance beyond that.

It is also chilling to see what has happened to some Turks who have spoken out, and shared their belief that the Turkish government of that time did commit genocide.

(Note, in 1923, Ataturk became the dictator/leader of Turkey, and essentially created the modern-day Turkish state through control of the military and overpowering will -- an officially secular, modern state. Ataturk had some problematic issues, but he is truly a historical legend, and a major figure. From 1923, Turkey and its government bore little resemblence to the government of 1915 -- an empire in its death throes, governed by a weak Sultan, challenged by a radical, nationalist, and foolhardy triumvirate of "Young Turks." I think this is part of the reason why it's so hard for modern-day Turkey to admit to the genocide; the state today is radically different from the state of that time.

I'll also add some relativism: just as it's hard for us modern-day Americans to accept that "we" committed genocide against the Native American population of America, and such genocide would never occur in today's world, I believe that it is difficult for modern-day Turks to do the same, vis-a-vis the Armenian genocide.)

All in all, a quality film, and a worthy addition to the canon of work exploring the tragic events of 1915.

This is a great movie that everyone should watch. Don't believe the Turkish reviews complaining about the movie. I am sure they haven't even seen it. The reason why I liked this movie is because it tries to explain both sides, in a balanced way. This was the first time I heard anyone explain the reason why the Turks were mad -- because they had just faced a major defeat.

Adolf Hitler, in writing about his decision to initiate the Holocaust, said "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?" This documentary assures that Hitler's observation is wrong and that nobody will forget the first genocide of the 20th Century.

Just as there are those who, amazingly, seek to deny the Holocaust, there are even more subtle and vicious voices seeking to deny the Armenian Genocide committed by the Turks during World War I. This systematic murder, forced starvation, rape, and torture of more than a million Armenians introduced into the American language the phrase "starving Armenians," but modern understanding of the origin of that phrase is lacking. This documentary reminds us all of the reality of what was perpetrated by a nation against its own citizens, and it should be required viewing in civics and history classes.

This is a moving documentary. It's powerful, evocative and yet tremendously difficult to watch because of the historical status of the Armenian genocide. It is an atrocity that continues to be largely overlooked, or conveniently denied because of the inconvenience of the truth.

I agree that the DVD quality could be finer, but after reading the negative reviews of this program on Amazon, I find that most of the them are by people who are irritated by the content, and not by the quality of this feature. These are the kind of people, Turkish or not, that would scoff at any person or program that dared to reveal the very inconvenient, but undeniable, truth about the Ottoman Empire's systemic purge of an entire people. They are not meant to be taken seriously.

The one-star reviews are by Turks who might as well be Nazis denying the Jewish Holocaust or Shoah during WWII. Germany was an ally of the Ottoman Empire in WWI, and thousands of German soldiers observed these massacres of disarmed labor battalians of Armenian men, or women, and children and helpless old men walked to their death, or murdered in many horrible ways. See also "Germany and the Secret Genocide" DVD, which illustrates how the truth has disappeared. The one-star reviews are highly offensive. In Germany Jewish Genocide denial is against the law. In Turkey Armenian Genocide denial is the law, and selling this DVD in Turkey would be against Turkish law, article 301. A Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor was murdered in Istanbul in January 2007 who had been prosecuted by the Turkish government for expressing this truth about history. Everyone should see this documentary to help combat evil. "All it takes for evil to win is for good people to do nothing!"

The documentary presents an objective view. It tells lots of details about the series of events that happened during at that period of time. Weather you like it or not, you have to face the facts and there is simply nothing more to present for the fairness of both sides than Goldberg have presented in this documentary. I learned much about that area of the globe and would highly recommend the documentary.

The DVD came in plenty of time for me to review it before my documentary dinner group. The DVD itself was a great discussion starter, especially since several folks in the group were only marginally aware of the circumstances surroundinmg the Armenian Genocide.

There need to be more documentaries like this to show the world the truth....how so many Armenians suffered at the hands of murderers. The Armenian Genocide is not "propaganda" and people need to stop the denial! Turkey needs to step up and admit what it has done. Goldberg has done a great job and I hope he continues to spread the truth.

Great job Goldberg, I am very impressed. I believe the individuals who contested against your movie were turks, dont take it to heart, that was very informative... I am Italian, and I admire the Armenians with a passion. They have suffered about 2 million which is what they have estimated to claim. They are very intelligent, and humanist. Turks need to put their differences aside and recognize the past to move into the future. By the way here is a fact for you... Did you know that the day the Armenian people morn for the victims of the genocide is APRIL 24. Its funny because I visited Turkey last year and the government is so corrupt there they brainwash the turkish people and they have placed APRIL 24 as a day of celebration on their callender. They BRAINWASH the turkih people into believing it didnt exist, so they will say about anything to sa it didnt happen... The last few reviews are competely false and confabulated stories, I dont understand why turkish people make fools of themselves by saying such garbage, Goldberg is not an Armenia name people, Cmon, its as if we are taking credit away from people who take time to put things together to reveal the truth....