TRIBUTE TO BLACK SEA’S DISAPPEARING CULTURES
Hurriyet
ish/lifestyle/10785955.asp?scr=1
Jan 16 2009
Turkey
ISTANBUL – ‘Sonbahar’ (Autumn), a recently popular Turkish film
directed by Ozcan Alper from the Black Sea region, is the first in
Turkey to use the Hemshin language. The film also reflects the magic
geography of the Black Sea.
The preservation of the Hemshin people, one of Turkey’s oldest
cultures, is the focus of Turkish film director Ozcan Alper’s, new
film "Sonbahar" (Autumn). The film is a tribute to the disappearing
culture of Hemshin people of the Black Sea region and was filmed
using the Hemshin language.
Alper, who defines himself as Hemshin, describes the people as
those who hid their Armenian identity and became Muslims in the 17th
century. Alper said the Hemshin people continue to speak Armenian,
but do not consider themselves Armenian or Turkısh. "Their lifestyle
and customs are totally different," Alper said.
He said he had never been affected by what he had gone through. "I
shot ‘Autumn’ in Hemshin, Georgian and Turkish languages. I didn’t
censor myself but sometimes worried if I would have a problem during
filming. This film is a kind of elegy for a disappearing geography
and culture."
Alper is the first Turkish director to shot a film in the Hemshin
language. His first short feature film "Momi" received great interest
at international festivals in 2000. Despite the film’s simple plot,
Alper said a suit was filed against him in the State Security
Court because of its language. "The artists who played the role of
grandmother and children were received fines even though the film had
no political elements. It was the story of a child who platonically
loved a woman," he said.
Before its release in Turkey, the film was shown at more than 10
international festivals including the Locarno Film Festival and arose
big interest. It will be screened for audiences at the Swedish Goteborg
and Dutch Rotterdam film festivals in the coming weeks.
The premiere of the film was in the Black Sea cities of Rize and
Artvin. "My aim was to see the reactions of Hemshin people. They don’t
like others to talk about their origins, but they have been more
tolerant in recent years. Moreover, if a person among them handles
this issue, they show more empathy," Alper said.
Alper said he adopted a manner against a possible reaction, adding,
"I challenge them if necessary. I say to them that this is my native
language and it is my right to talk about it."
Alper said even people who had never been to a cinema attended the
premier of the film and that reactions were very positive among people
who were seeing a film for the first time in their own language.
Reactions of Hemshin people seen first Alper, pointing out Turkey’s
cultural richness, said, "If this country becomes more democratized,
and a way is paved for art, there would be more success." He said,
despite "Autumn’s" political elements, he did not have the same
problems he had eight years ago from "Momi." "I think prejudices are
gradually fading away," he said. In his films, Alper shows scenes
from daily life. He said his aim was to show the natural life and
that the mother and villagers acting in "Autumn" had been chosen from
local people.
Yusuf’s love for Elka
The film tells the story of Yusuf who returned to the
CamlıhemÅ~_in-Fırt& #xC4;±na Valley after spending 12 years in prison for
a political offence. He spends his time with his childhood friend
Mikail. One day, Mikail takes him to a bar, where he falls in love
with a Georgian dancer named Elka. As his tragic end approaches,
Yusuf’s last hope is his love for Elka.
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