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KurdishCinema
Narcissus should blossom Devrim Kilic – Boston - 07/08/06 The Kurdish Cinema is gradually developing day by day. Almost each day we hear the success story of Kurdish directors and films. Along with the famous directors, some new Kurdish directors make their name in cinema industry. It is sensational to see the success of new and young Kurdish directors. Despite the all obstacles, the resistance of Kurdish cinema has historical importance for both Kurds and film art. I recently had the chance of watching "U Nergiz Biskivin" (Narcissus Blossom), the film of Kurdish directors Masoud Arif Salih and Hussein Hassan Ali. "U Nergiz Biskivin", won Amnesty International Film Award at the 56. Berlin International Film Festival at the beginning of this year tells the struggle of Kurdish peshmergas who were resisting the brutal Saddam regime in 1975, with a dramatic and poetic style and language. Based on the story of Mihemed Mihsin, the film is a politic-dram. Shot from the perspective of a university student, Jeger, who later joins the peshmerga forces due to the increase of state oppression on students in Duhok. Though Jeger joins the peshmerga, his mind is obsessed with his family and his university friends. In reality, he is a person who is against the use of weapons and force. That’s why he is deeply affected of the peshmarga life. It is a humanist film that reflects the desire of freedom and peace of Kurds and it idealizes Kurds’ struggle. Furthermore there are the misery of Kurdish villagers who are stuck in-between clashes, the massacred Kurdish children and the Kurdish girls who commits suicide by throwing themselves from a cliff in order to not to be raped by Iraqi soldiers. While idealizing the struggle of Kurds for existing and freedom, at the same time the filmmakes criticism of the Kurds. Dealing with the issues of domestic violence against Kurdish women and arranged marriage of a Kurdish girl who loves someone else "U Nergiz Biskivin" draws the audiences attentions to the question of women freedom. Amazingly at certain points, ‘U Nergiz Biskivin’ (Narcissus Blossom) tastes like a poet in terms of its dialogues, images and editing. It is one of the most political and nationalist Kurdish films I ever watched. One can easily see the desire of freedom of Kurds in its profound dialogues. Jeger says "It's been measured and divided into four parts a long time ago, but their dreams will never be achieved. May be not today but tomorrow, may be not us but someone else. We will make Kurdistan flag from the legends (Khane Lep Zerin Myth) and wrap it around the four parts; we will say Kurdistan is one not four." In addition, the film criticizes international powers, like USA, that put their interest first when it comes to the issue of Kurds freedom. One line from the film reads, "A Kurds life is sold for one gallon petrol!" All the characters in the film played by non-professional actors/actress and including directors Hussein Hassan Ali as Jeger and Masoud Arif Salih as doctor. The performance of two directors are very good overall the film. The film, which is a Sevin and Nudem production, takes place in the city of Duhok where the directors were born and is shot by the support of Kurdistan Regional Government. This film is a new source of joy for Kurdish Cinema, so one should help ‘Narcissus’ to blossom; as it is our feature that will wilt. Narcissus Blossom: Production: Iraq / France, 2005, 80 min Director: Masoud Arif Salih, Hussein Hassan Ali Cast: Hussein Hassan Ali, Masoud Arif Salih, Bakir Kovli, Beybun, Mohammed A. Artishi, Ismail Zuber, Hakar Mohsin, Shahin Kivork World sales: Ciné FK2 Production kurdiscinema@hotmail.com Devrim Kilic's other articles: 1- Representation of Kurdish Identity and Culture in the Films of Bahman Ghobadi 2- Narcissus should Blossom 3- Criticism of cultural biases and celebration of love! 4- Kiarostami’s portrayal of Kurds in ‘A taste of cherry’ and ‘The wind will carry us’ |