Armor (Syaran film)

Armor Оклоп
Directed by	Margos Markarian
Screenplay by	Ljubomir Kralevski
Produced by	Anica Manojlović
Starring	Tase Rajcevski Benjamin Novosel Karnig Ghukasian Miladin Demitrov Dobrev Ljiljana Hečimović
Cinematography	Ivan Tomašević
Edited by	Emasdouhi Ksajikian
Music by	Rafael Ognjanovski
Production company	Iron Peak Productions
Distributed by	Commonality Films Incorporated
Release date	14 March 2021
Running time	131 minutes
Country	Syara
Language	Syaran
Budget	$50 million
Box office	$210 million

Armor (Syaran: Оклоп) is a Syaran war film directed by Margos Markarian, who co-wrote the film with writer Ljubomir Kralevski. The film takes place during the Zemplen War and follows a Syaran soldier, Slobodan Torov (portrayed by Tase Rajcevksi), and his experience following his conscription and service in the conflict as a tank gunner. Filming started in late 2019 and wrapped up in October 2020. Armor was released on 14 March 2021 to positive reviews and commercial success, with praise for its acting and soundtrack.

Cast

• Tase Rajcevski as Slobodan Torov
• Benjamin Novosel as Andrej Churanov
• Karnig Ghukasian as Avak Avaliani
• Miladin Demitrov Dobrev as Robert Topolovec
• Ljiljana Hečimović as Irena Ristevska

Plot

In the summer of 2008, a bright and optimistic Slobodan Torov completes his semester at the University of Sena where he studies to be an architect. In an email to his father and brother he outlines his plans for completing his degree and proposing to his long time girlfriend Sashka. After making elaborate preparations for the proposal Torov is shocked when Sashka declines and promptly breaks off contact with him. Stunned and disheartened, Torov enters into a depressive state. His grades quickly decline despite intervention from his family and friend Irena, who expressed affection for him but is ignored by a despondent Torov. Several weeks later, due in part to his sudden drop in academic standing, Torov is conscripted into the Syaran army. He is transported to Galania for basic training, which he takes to poorly due to his sullen and emotionally drained nature. His comrades embark on several endeavors to change Torov's demeanor before reporting him to their instructors after he implies he has no qualms about dying either through combat or suicide. Torov is sent to the medical staff over concerns for self-harm, but the demands of the war result in Torov being sent back to training with little more than medication.

Torov and his platoon graduate and he is assigned to the role of tank crewman in an armored company being formed before heading to the front line. Torov is assigned to Talos-2, commanded by Sergeant Churanov and driven by Private First Class Avaliani. Still emotionally detached and dispassionate Torov struggles during his gunnery trials and scores poorly, leading to him being assigned as a "reserve crewman" who's main job will be cleaning and repairing the tanks. The day before the unit is to set out another crewman is killed in an accident however, and Torov is reassigned to Talos-2. His crew members are apprehensive about his involvement given his poor performance thus far, and Torov struggles to build relationships with his crew. The company moves out to the front line, but along the way a tank is lost to a mine, crippling the vehicle and forcing the tank to be abandoned. A day later a Ruvelkan helicopter gunship destroys two more tanks from another platoon, causing morale to hit rock bottom.

After finally reaching the front, Torov's company digs in and comes under attack from the Ruvelkan army. Despite a chaotic combat environment Torov unexpectedly performs well under pressure, successfully destroying multiple armored vehicles during the battle. Sergeant Churanov concludes that Torov's disassociation renders him effectively immune to the stress of combat, and his status within his unit rises. During the Ruvelkan Winter Counter-Offensive the company suffers losses, but Talos-2 successfully destroys more enemy armor, leading Torov's reputation to rise. Despite this he remains emotionally distant from the rest of his unit, spending long nights alone in his tank and rarely conversing with anyone outside his crew. During the Syaran Spring Offensives the crew once more engages in heavy combat. During one battle the company encountered Acrean armored forces; the Syarans suffer heavy losses, but Torov succeeds in scoring a catastrophic kill on an Acrean tank, earning him praise from his superiors and earning him a promotion.

Torov finally begins emerging from his shell as his reputation grows in the battalion and brigade grows. He composes a letter addressed to Sashka stating his acceptance of her rejection and declares his decision to move on from that part of his life. Torov focuses entirely on fighting the war, becoming proficient in the operation of his crews' tank. To the surprise of his comrades Torov begins displaying a degree of ruthlessness in his behavior; he machineguns a group of Ruvelkan troops fleeing the battlefield and later tries to fire upon a civilian lorry carrying wounded that is only prevented at the last second by Churanov. Churanov, Avaliani, and some other soldiers in the company discuss what to do with Torov, but are unable to come to an agreement as his skill-at-arms is considered too valuable to the unit. Some time later the company comes under Ruvelkan attack and Torov spots a Ruvelkan soldier preparing to fire an anti-tank guided missile at Talos-2. Torov mistakes her for Sashka owing to a passing resemblance between the two, stopping him from firing and allowing the Ruvelkan soldier to fire her missile which strikes Talos-2. Churanov is killed and Avaliani is crippled by the ensuing strike, while Torov suffers minor injuries but recovers. Stunned by the loss of his crew and his own inaction, Torov retreats back into isolationism after being assigned to a new vehicle.

Torov is joined by a new replacement Private Topolovec, who is ignorant of Torov's history with the unit and tries to make friends with him. Torov rebuffs him, but Topolovec continues to try to strike up a friendship owing to their mutual isolation, as Topolovec is brand new and treated as such by the rest of the unit. After some time Torov relents and explains his situation and the events that led him to his current state, bemoaning his failures and frustration that the only thing he seems to be good at is killing, while also being unable to seemingly let go of the past. The war ends shortly thereafter and Torov is discharged. He returns to Symmeria and decides to track down Sashka. He succeeds, but Sashka is surprised to see him, having already moved on and is in another relationship. Dejected and depressed, Torov returns home to a family that struggles to come to grips with his new demeanor, only further isolating him. Torov contemplates suicide, or re-enlisting in the army as he doesn't believe he can return to a normal life. While waiting for the bus one day Torov runs into Irena, whom he has not seen since before his conscription. The two converse and Irena asks what Torov plans to do now that the war is over, and Torov laments he has no real plan and is unsure of what to do. Irena asks him if he would like to visit a cafe with her and Torov agrees. As they walk away, Torov stuffs a suicide note into a trashcan.

Reception

Armor earned largely positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, earning $210 million on a $50 budget. Special praise was singled out for the acting, cinematography, and soundtrack, while some criticized the pacing and resolution. Film critic Brayko Borislavov Nankov gave the film three stars out of five, stating "Armor presents a meaningful and earnest tale of struggle and isolation, that unfortunately resolve with the weight that it has built up to". Dario Grzan, writing for the Zovahr Sentinel, gave the film an 8/10 praising the score and actors while stating disappointment with the films conclusion. Hamaspouyr Hovhanesian singled out Tase Rajcevskis' performance as "haunting and visceral". Psychologist Zapryana Stanimirova Alexandrova praised the portrayal of depression and social isolation in the film, citing it as "one of the most realistic depictions in recent cinema".