“Hrant is Armenia itself.”
Balayan recalled receiving “Alkho” in 1968 from Viktor Dzhorbenadze, the production designer of “The Colour of Pomegranates”. The book deeply moved him. He later gave copies to fellow directors and particularly admired Matevossian’s ability to convey the smallest details of life.
An adaptation of “The Buffalo” remained one of Balayan’s unrealised projects. In an interview, he recalled proposing three versions, none of which received support. The novella about a female buffalo leaving her yard in search of a male was a story he wanted to bring to the screen.
Their connection was also personal: Matevossian became Balayan’s godfather. The director recalled that the writer insisted he be baptised at the age of fifty-five.