Armenia, Cradle of Humanity

From the Library of Congress, restored by Cineteca di Bologna

The title refers to Armenia, Cradle of Humanity, a 1919 film made to present the first Republic of Armenia (1918-1920). However, the very first images show us the Armenian orphans on boats, in front of the Kuleli military school in Istanbul. This footage must be shot during the occupation of Istanbul (1918-1923), after the British-French occupation forces had evacuated Kuleli in 1920 turning it into a shelter for the Armenian orphans. After this we see images of Kars, probably shot before the city was recaptured by the Ottoman army in October 1920.