The harrowing story of the Petrosyan family, brought to life in the 2024 film Between Borders, is a gripping tale of survival, faith and resilience. The movie, which stars Ana Ularu, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Elizabeth Tabish and was directed by Mark Freiburger—vividly shows how the Petrosyans fled from Baku, Azerbaijan during the anti-Armenian pogroms in the late 1980s. This historical drama shows how an Armenian family living in a time of hatred—discrimination and violence had to deal with unimaginable hardships. Their hope and faith kept them going, though.
But what happened to the Petrosyan family after their escape? Where are they now? Today, let’s look at the lives of each family member and learn about their amazing journey from being persecuted to finding peace.
The Scary Journey of the Petrosyan Family
It was pretty stable for the Petrosyan family in Baku, Azerbaijan. There was Ivan, Violetta, and their two young daughters, Olga and Julia. But tensions between Armenians and Azeris built up over time and turned violent in the late 1980s. This was the start of a terrible time of pogroms against Armenians that were made worse by official anti-Armenian hatred.
For the Petrosyans, life in Baku quickly became too hard to bear. Armenians were treated worse and worse as time went on. At school, Violetta was treated unfairly because she was Armenian. Her good grades were given to ‘Azerbaijani students’ instead of her own. The 1988 Spitak earthquake made things worse, with Azeris openly happy about Armenia’s bad luck. This hostile environment turned into organized violence, with mobs going after Armenian families, like the Petrosyans.
Violetta remembers very clearly how scary those times were. The names of the family were on lists that the mobs carried that showed where Armenian homes were. The family made backup plans. Ivan, who is an experienced mountain climber, brought home flares and ropes so that they could escape through the balcony of their apartment building if the door was broken. For safety, they also armed themselves with an ax. Even though things were crazy, a brave Azeri neighbor stepped out of their way to bring bread to the family and protect them from the crowds.
By the beginning of 1989, all Armenians in Baku were in danger of losing their lives. At a family gathering in Sumgait on February 28, 1988, Violetta’s father warned that violence against Armenians was getting worse. The Petrosyans barely made it out of the pogroms; they ran away to Russia with nothing but their backpacks and clothes on their backs. The family tried to find safety in Volgograd, but they were still treated badly because they were foreigners.
Their lives became more spiritual while they were in Russia. When they started going to a church started by American missionaries, Violetta had a deep conversion to Christianity. This new faith became the family’s anchor as they went through hard times and eventually found safety in the United States.
Between Borders (2024) : The Real Story of the Petrosyan Family
Where Is the Real Petrosyan Family Now?
The story of the Petrosyan family is now a symbol of how strong people can be. Each member of the family has made their own path of strength, faith, and purpose. Now let’s look more closely at their lives:
Ivan and Violetta Petrosyan lives in South Charleston
Violetta, the matriarch of the family, has become an integral part of the Charleston University community in West Virginia. She holds the position of Director of International Students. Violetta’s deep empathy for international students—many of whom face homesickness and cultural adjustment—drives her work. She ensures these students feel supported and welcome—often going beyond her job description to make their experience in a foreign land as smooth as possible.
Violetta remembers how her grandmother taught her how to make the sign of the cross and say the Lord’s Prayer when she was young but these lessons didn’t teach her much about faith. She fully became a Christian while she was in Volgograd. Her spiritual rebirth happened on her birthday, October 6.
Today, Violetta’s story still motivates other people. When she talks, she talks about how important it is to forgive and how faith can help you get through anything. Even though she is very busy at work, she is just as dedicated to her family and continues to be the emotional center of the Petrosyan family.
Ivan Petrosyan:
A man of many talents, Ivan works as a maintenance professional at their local church. His role not only keeps the church functioning but also serves as an extension of his faith and dedication to his community. Ivan’s passion for coffee has taken a creative turn. Drawing inspiration from the rich coffee traditions of the region—he started his own coffee roasting business. This small venture allows him to express his entrepreneurial spirit; while connecting with people over something as simple yet profound as coffee. Beyond work, Ivan has love for music. His guitar playing used to help him deal with tough times and is still a hobby that he loves and that makes his family and community happy.
Julia Petrosyan
The oldest daughter, Julia, was eight years old when the pogroms happened in Baku. The terrible things that happened to her changed the way she thought about life and justice. Julie remembers how scary it was to hear crowds chanting “Death to Armenians,” and how scared their whole family was all the time during those days.
Julia has made her own way in Denmark now. Her family life and her business life are now balanced because she is married and has two kids. Judy runs a coffee shop. Her café is especially focused on helping the community, which comes from the values her parents taught her.
Olga (Petrosyan) Christoffersen
Olga is the youngest member of her family, but she has done amazing things to follow her dreams in music and her faith. She earned a degree in vocal performance from Bethel University, which shows how hard she worked at her craft. During her time in school—Olga led worship in churches in both Denmark and the United States. As a worship leader, she could connect with people through music, which gave many people hope and inspiration.
Olga is an associate producer at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, right now. In this job, she uses both her artistic and organizational skills to help put on large-scale church shows that inspire and encourage the people who attend.
She lives in Indiana with her husband David Christoffersen and two kids, Caspian and Leah. Even though Olga has a lot going on, she puts her family first and gives her kids a loving home, just like her parents did for her and Julia.
It’s not just a story of survival for the Petrosyan family; it’s also a story of hope, forgiveness and change. Their experiences show how terrible hatred can be and how strong people can be when they have to deal with it. “Love and forgiveness always win” Violetta says in a very moving way.
In a world where prejudice often separates people, the movie Between Borders is a powerful reminder of how important it is to be kind and work together. For the Petrosyans, having faith and not giving up has helped them rebuild their lives and tell others about their experience.
While the family keeps talking about their experiences—they hope that their story will show how hate can hurt people and how faith and forgiveness can change things. What the Petrosyan family left behind shows how strong the human spirit is and their story will definitely inspire future generations.
Between Borders (2024) : Where is Olga Petrosyan Now?
