SHADOWS AND FACES

SHADOWS AND FACES, 2010
Director: Derviş Zaim
Turkey, 35mm, Color, 116’; Turkish with English subtitles

The film is the coming-of-age story of a young girl who is separated from her father, a Karagöz shadow puppeteer, at the outbreak of the conflict between Turks and Greeks in 1963 in Cyprus. The background to the escape from ravaged villages to the safer city sheds light on the story of Cyprus itself. When a man unwillingly finds himself and his family in the midst of violence what will he risk to keep from getting involved in crime? How can he maintain his innocence and remain human in a world where violence reigns? Inspired by true events the film seeks answers to these questions. Shadows and Faces (on shadow play) is the last installment of Derviş Zaim’s “traditional Turkish arts” trilogy which began with Waiting for Heaven (on miniatures) and Dot (on calligraphy).