Anatomy of Peace 2
Documentary film about how people affected by the Nagorny Karabakh conflict see peacebuilding.
About the project
‘Anatomy of Peace 2’ is a documentary film and the continuation of a project of the same name about the lives of people from the border regions and how they view peacebuilding. At the heart of the narrative are five people from different parts of Armenia who have been affected by the conflict. Each of them have their own experiences – in life and professionally – and also their own unique vision for the future of the region.
Armenian society is deeply divided today with sometimes conflicting views about peacebuilding. The project team uses the film to explore what reconciliation means for people whose lives have been directly affected by the conflict.
Aimed both at people living in Armenia and at a wider audience, ‘Anatomy of Peace 2’ seeks to demonstrate the importance of overcoming stereotypes, developing critical thinking and direct dialogue about resolving the conflict.
How work on the film developed
Before the project started, the Media Initiatives Center held an open scriptwriting competition. A special panel considered the submissions and chose the best ideas. They then organised a meeting with the candidates where they discussed the project concept and the individuals’ stories in detail and how they might complement each other. After this, five people started work on the project.
Filming began in Yerevan and continued in other parts of the country. However, the process didn’t always run smoothly. In the village of Kirants, where border demarcation work was undertaken in 2024, the filmmakers found it very difficult to obtain permission for their work. Once they were on site, they were repeatedly stopped and attempts were made to interrupt them when they were filming in certain places.
Film premier
Work on the documentary film is now largely complete and can now be watched online. ‘Anatomy of Peace 2’ has been broadcast on a number of TV channels and published on social media. The film has been translated into English and Russian so that it reaches a wider audience.
It is also planned to show the film together with the original ‘Anatomy of Peace’ project which has been converted into video format for convenience. The films will be used for training and public discussions and will be made available to organisations working in conflict transformation.
