Henri Verneuil was born Achod Malakian of Armenian parentage on October 15, 1920, in Rodosto, Turkey, and his family fled to France and settled in Marseilles when he was a young child. He later recounted his childhood experience in the novel Mayrig, which he dedicated to his mother and made into this 1991 film with the same name.

Claudia Cardinale
as Araxi (Mayrig) Zakarian

Omar Sharif
as Hagop Zakarian

Nathalie Roussel
as Gayane

Isabelle Sadoyan
as Anna

Jacky Nercessian
as Apkar

Richard Berry
as Pierre Zakar (voice only)

Cédric Doucet
as Azad age 7

Tom Ponsin
as Azad age 12

Stéphane Servais
as Azad age 20

Serge Avédikian
as Vaksen Papasian