What if your history and home ceased to exist? This film chronicles that journey for the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), a country whose independence is not internationally recognized. In There Was, There Was Not, Emily Mkrtichian follows four women striving to improve their homeland through political activism, martial arts, domestic violence advocacy, and landmine removal. Their lives are soon upended by renewed conflict, and they grapple with what it means to leave home and not know if they’ll ever return. Mkrtichian provides an intimate look at the everydayness of their lives while simultaneously delving into the realities of war—a poignant exploration of the fight to preserve one’s culture. - Jillian Desirée Oliveras