Earthquake (Землетрясение) is a 2016 historical drama by Russian–Armenian director Sarik Andreasyan (Сарик Андреасян). The film depicts the massive earthquake, and its aftermath, that shook Armenia on December 7, 1988. Starring Konstantin Lavronenko (Константин Лавроненко), Mariya Mironova (Мария Миронова), Viktor Stepanyan (Виктор Степанян), and Tatev Ovakimyan (Татев Овакимян), the film has seen a lot of popularity in Russia.
On December 7, 1988, a massive earthquake hit nearly the entire republic of Armenia, destroying the cities of Spitak (Спитак), Leninakan (Ленинакан), Kirovakan (Кировакан), and Stepanavan (Степанаван), among some 300 other populated areas. The disaster left 25,000 dead, 19,000 severely injured, and more than half a million homeless.
The film uses this catastrophic context to follow the stories of two main characters, Konstantin Berezhniy and Robert Melkonyan. Years before the earthquake, Konstantin caused a car wreck that killed Robert’s parents. As a result, Konstantin spent several years in prison, and the young Robert was left to live with relatives. By an unlikely twist of fate, Konstantin returns to his wife, daughter, and son on the same day as the massive earthquake. Robert, who has yet to forgive Konstantin for his crime, ends up involved in the relief effort. The two encounter each other early on, but do not immediately recognize each other. The rest of the film deals with these two coming to terms with their entangled pasts while trying to help victims of the earthquake.
Director: Sarik Andreasyan (Сарик Андреасян)
Stars: Konstantin Lavronenko (Константин Лавроненко), Mariya Mironova (Мария Миронова), Viktor Stepanyan (Виктор Степанян), and Tatev Ovakimyan (Татев Овакимян)
Production company: Bolshoe Kino
Box office take: $3,628,615
Official trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAb5gqeE6I8
