Tribute to Black Sea’s disappearing cultures

The preservation of the Hemshin people, one of Turkey’s oldest cultures, is the focus of Turkish film director Özcan 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 Çamlıhemşin-Fırtına 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.