Namus

Namus (, meaning "honor") is a 1925 silent drama film by Hamo Beknazarian, based on Alexander Shirvanzade's 1885 novel of the same name, which denounces the despotic rites and customs of Caucasian families. It is widely recognized as the first Armenian feature film. History Background The Armenfilm studio was founded two years later, on 16 April 1923 as the State Cinema Organisation. Hamo Beknazarian, who was an actor prior to the 1917 Revolution, became actively involved in directing films after the Bolsheviks took over. Namus became his first notable work as a director. Production and reaction Namus was first premiered in Yerevan's Nairi Theatre on 13 April 1926. On 3 October of the same year, the film was presented in Moscow. A poster in Leningrad in 1926 called Namus the "biggest blockbuster of the season". When asked about the film, Hamo Beknazarian said "I wanted to set the power of custom in the pillory, that stupid force of the concept of "father's honor". The film had incredible success and brought Beknazarian to fame in the Soviet Union, which helped him in his later works, making him the founder of Armenian cinematography.