In a recent interview on NUR TV, Swiss-Armenian filmmaker Varsy Buchmann offered an intimate look into the creative and emotional process behind her acclaimed documentary installation, “They Say We Have to Leave.” The project documents the forced displacement of 120,000 Armenians from Artsakh in 2023 through the powerful testimonies of 120 women. For Buchmann, the work is more than a documentary—it is an act of empathy and a fight against global indifference.

The project was conceived just days into the tragedy. “I started working on this project on September 25, 2023, the sixth day of the Artsakh tragedy,” Buchmann shared, recalling the moment of urgency. “I called Andreas Weber, the project’s producer… and said we must meet and discuss a new project.” She knew immediately that the story demanded an immersive format. “Within days, it became clear that it had to be an installation format, because it gives the opportunity to combine different media and narratives,” she explained.

At the heart of the installation are the stories of 120 women, a choice Buchmann made to access the deep emotional core of the tragedy. “Why women? This project is first and foremost created to convey… the experiences, the feelings, the pain, and the resilience,” she noted. “A woman, by her nature, is very emotional. To get that access… I had to talk to the women.” The process of finding these women—ranging in age from 17 to 85 and from all walks of life, including politicians and soldiers—was a year-long journey. The interviews were conducted in a private, calm environment, allowing the women to share their stories of unimaginable loss. One participant recounted the heartbreaking act of burning her mother’s military honors, medals, and uniform—her entire life—to protect her identity.

The installation itself is designed as a physical journey for the visitor. “You can’t sit comfortably and watch how people went through that pain,” Buchmann stated. “You have to walk.” Viewers begin by passing through a long, dark corridor symbolizing the Lachin corridor, where they are met with the silent gazes of the women on screen. The second section juxtaposes a “sea of oil” with the names of the Christian heritage sites left behind, a stark critique of what is “exchanged for what” on the world stage. The final part features personal archives, showing the vibrant life in Artsakh before it was lost.

Born in Kapan and a descendant of the last bek of Zangezur, Buchmann has a deep, personal connection to the land. This connection fuels her mission to take these stories to the world. “The idea of the project is to travel the world and make the voice of Artsakh heard,” she affirmed.

Following a powerful reception in Yerevan, where guests were visibly moved, the exhibition is scheduled for Basel on October 31. For Buchmann, the goal is to create a shared understanding and a collective memory, because, as she powerfully concludes, “If you don’t feel, you don’t remember. And if you don’t remember, you won’t take any action.”