MAIN DRAMATIC COMPETITION “MAKING WAY”

GÜLIZAR

2024 / 84 min / color

20-something Gülizar (a superb performance from Ecem Uzun) comes from a loving but very traditional Turkish family. She dreams of finding a way to transcend the harsh set of patriarchal rules she’s known since birth. She sees her impending marriage to Emre (Bekir Behrem), in Kosovo, as her opportunity. During the bus ride to her fiance’s home, Gulizar is attacked and sexually assaulted. She doesn’t tell anyone, and tries to bury her shame and trauma, but those feelings start to overshadow the wedding preparations. The atmosphere around the bride-to-be and her future husband becomes increasingly tense and their relationship goes into crisis. In her feature debut, which had its world premiere at San Sebastian IFF, Belkis Bayrak uses the narrative approach of a realistic psychological drama to tell the story of a young woman who decides to fight for herself. Her strong protagonist is determined to take control of her own life, against all odds, confronting a status quo that’s quite hostile to women.

A Q&A session with the filmmakers will take place during the film screening on April 30 at 6:00 PM at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Please note: the Q&A will be in English.