The Children of Diyarbakir (Min-Dit)

by Miraz Bezar

The Children of Diyarbakir (Min-Dit)

Synopsis

Ten-year-old Gulistan and her younger brother Firat live happily with their parents in Diyarbakir, the heart of Turkish Kurdistan. Tragedy strikes when their mother and father, a political journalist, are shot down by paramilitary gunmen before their very eyes on a deserted road one night. Traumatized and orphaned, Gulistan, Firat and their infant sister remain at home in the care of their young Aunt Yekbun. She is trying to arrange passage and flights for her and the children to settle in Sweden. Before she is able to complete the process, politically active Yekbun disappears without a trace. Gulistan and Firat patiently await the return of their Aunt Yekbun. They continue their daily life and try as best they can to care for their baby sister. But as days turn into weeks, the money that their aunt has left them runs out. Forced to live without water and electricity, the children must sell furniture and appliances for food and medicine. Eventually there is nothing left to sell to pay the rent. Alone on the streets of Diyarbakir, Gulistan and Firat scounge for food and a place to sleep. They meet tough 12-year-old Zelal and her blind grandfather, also homeless, who squat amid the ruins of the old Armenian church. Zelal coaches Gulistan and Firat on street survival, as they discover that there are numerous other children in Diyarbakir who share similar fates. Gulistan strikes up a friendship with part-time escort Dilara, whom she accompanies on hotel calls, serving as a cover to help the young woman avoid trouble. One day, Gulistan is shocked to recognize one of Dilara’s clients as the muderer of her parents. There is no mistaking the loving family man is the cold-blooded killer. Feelings of fear and vengeance confuse the traumatized Gulistan and Firat. But they cannot remain silent. Remembering their mother’s folk tales, Gulistan devises a non-violent way for the children of Diyarbakir to be revenged...

Director

Miraz previously directed several short films, which have been screened at festivals worldwide, such as Montreal, Oberhausen, Istanbul, Munich, Aix-en-Provence, Hamburg, Valladolid, Florence and Berlin. »Berivan« was awarded Best Short in Nürnberg and »Duri» won the prestigious IFSAK Award in Istanbul. »Berivan« was also selected as part of a "New European Realism" touring package which included films by Mike Leigh and Wolfgang Becker.

Miraz was born in 1971 in Ankara, Turkey. After the military coup in 1980, he immigrated with his family to Germany. He graduated in Cultural Studies at the Berlin Humboldt University and started acting in Off Theatre groups. He studied directing at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin (DFFB). Miraz currently resides in Berlin.

2009 »The Children of Diyarbakir« (Min Dît)
2001 »Fair Game« (Freiwild) (Short)
1998 »Duri« (Fern / Far Away) (Short)
1996 »Berivan« (Short)
1994 »The Needle« (Die Nadel) (Short)

Cast

Şenay Orak - Gulîstan
Muhammed Al - Firat (Gulîstan's Brother)
Hakan Karsak - Nuri Kaya (Paramilitary)
Suzan İlir - Zelal (Friend)
Berîvan Ayaz - Dilara (Escort)
Fahriye Çelik - Mother
Alişan Önlü - Father
Berîvan Eminoğlu - Yekbun (Aunt)
Mehmet İnci - Mîkaîl
Çekdar Korkusuz - Çekdar
Recep Özer - Bindest

Crew

Director, Writer, Producer: Miraz Bezar
Co-Producers: Klaus Maeck, Fatih Akın
Associate Producers: Saliha Kutlay, Flaminio Zadra
Cinematography: Isabelle Casez
Editor: Miraz Bezar
Sound Mixer: Garip Özden
Set Design: Pınar Soydinç
Music: Mustafa Biber
Costume Design: Özlem Batur

Technical Data

Format: 35 mm Scope / 24fps / 1:2,35 / Color / Dolby Digital
Length: 102 min
Originnal language: Kurdish, Turkish

Original title: Min dit

Artwork

Click here for the »The Children of Diyarbakir (Min-Dit)« artwork

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The Children of Diyarbakir (Min-Dit)
The Children of Diyarbakir (Min-Dit)

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