A little short film on the simplicity of Armenia

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This is a pretty experimental, almost documentary styled film shot during one of the last days I had in Armenia. I shot it on the Sony A6000 which isn't great a shooting video, shooting at 25 FPS and at 1080p. But this wasn't about the quality of the potential short, but instead more a moment of me just standing on the balcony on a windy day, placing the camera on the side, and just recording the simplicity of the life from above. This was the first location I had discovered in Armenia, a residential area called Ajapnyak, a beautiful area full of Soviet era apartment complexes, the very stereotype of Russia that I had ever heard of and seen, pretty much. I fell in love with this place and the people around it. It was a cozy area, full of unique places that I once roamed throughout the days, without any Internet and just holding the camera. It was here where I spent most of winter, the cold nights that I hold dearly. The changing of the leaves around. The snow that fell from above as I waited for the bus. Memories I'll never forget. On cold nights I'd sit outside with a blanket and tea, and talk with one of the first Armenians I met, about life and philosophy. I told myself on that balcony that if I ever returned to Armenia to live, it'd be to live there in that area.

I'm not sure what made me set up the camera and just start shooting, I knew it wouldn't amount to anything of quality. But it matches how I see the world. How I love to just sit and observe, watching the many moments of life go by. The changing of the sunlight, the people crossing the street, and the little light as apartments suddenly begin to glow. Cars moving to and from. Dogs in the distance bark. The sounds of children laughing and people talking in the street below can be heard. You sit there, watching from above, and think of how weird and beautiful life is. To get that perspective on how fragile it all is, while also having that question of "Just how did I end up here?". I came from a small village in rural England, now sitting at the top of a Soviet era building in Armenia, appreciating the simple moments of life. And now I type this from the comfort of a small apartment in Tbilisi, Georgia. All these moments, the things I've seen within the past year. I long for it. I love it. I can't imagine doing anything other.

So, perhaps this film is a bit too experimental for some. For me, it's a capture of life itself. Nothing fancy about it, just moments passing by. Isn't that something quite beautiful?

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