On Thursday evening, the ACF Beshir Mardirossian Youth Center in Burbank became a focal point of historical remembrance and community solidarity as it hosted the highly anticipated screening of The Price for Fake Peace. Organized by the ARF Western United States’ North Hollywood, Burbank, and Glendale chapters, the event was held under the auspices of the ARF Western USA Central Committee and drew a packed audience from across Southern California’s Armenian-American community.
The program was masterfully emceed by ARF North Hollywood Chapter Chairwoman Laura Hakobyan, who welcomed guests and introduced keynote figures, including ARF Bureau Member Daron Der Khachatourian and ARF WUSA Central Committee Member Levon Baronian. Before the screening, the gathering was further energized by a solemn moment: an ARF novice took his oath, officially joining the ranks of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation—a gesture that underscored the evening’s broader message of commitment, memory, and resilience.
Directed by Mariam Yegoryan, The Price for Fake Peace is a documentary rooted in meticulous archival research and narrated with gripping intensity by Derenik Malkhasyan. The film reconstructs the events that led to the historic Battle of Sardarapat in April and May of 1918, when the very existence of the Armenian nation hung in the balance. As Russian troops abandoned the Caucasian front, Ottoman forces advanced, demanding the surrender of Kars and Alexandropol (modern-day Gyumri) in exchange for promises of peace. Trusting these assurances, Armenian leaders agreed to withdraw—only to witness horrific massacres and widespread devastation.
Drawing exclusively from eyewitness testimonies, accounts of survivors, and contemporary press, the film reveals how each act of appeasement by Armenian authorities was met not with peace, but with greater Turkish aggression. The final chapters lead viewers to the outskirts of Yerevan, where outnumbered Armenian forces mounted a desperate defense at Sardarapat. Their victory there prevented the annihilation of the Armenian homeland and marked a defining moment in modern Armenian history.
The documentary’s impact was amplified by its high production value. Produced by Harutyun Harutyunyan and Armen Andreasayan, with a screenplay by Levon Galstyan, the film weaves historical documentation with emotional storytelling. Cinematographers Mushegh Mamikonyan and Tigran Gasparyan capture both the vastness of Armenia’s landscape and the intimacy of personal sacrifice, while Tatos Hakobyan’s musical score evokes the emotional and moral gravity of the film’s themes.
Presented in Armenian with English subtitles, the film ensures accessibility for both Armenian speakers and the broader public. The screening, held at the Beshir Mardirossian Youth Center, is expected to be one of many, as community interest continues to grow in stories that illuminate the strength, struggle, and survival of the Armenian people.
The Price for Fake Peace is more than a film—it is a call to memory and vigilance. It reminds audiences that history is not only a record of past events, but a guidepost for collective action. In honoring those who resisted annihilation in 1918, the community reaffirmed its enduring commitment to justice, truth, and the defense of the Armenian nation.
