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By Naman Ramachandran
Naman Ramachandran
Turkish Filmmaker Reis Çelik Presents Coup Drama ‘Night of Blindness’ at Shanghai Festival 2 hours ago
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Turkish director Reis Çelik debuted "Night of Blindness," a Turkish-German co-production set against the backdrop of Turkey’s 1980 military coup, at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival. The feature is vying for the Golden Goblet Award within the main competition category.
The narrative follows Fatma, a left-wing activist who conceals herself in a confined space between wooden planks at a building site and depends on a group of unfamiliar workers to avoid being caught. Çelik, who incorporated personal experiences into crafting the narrative, decided to center the story on a female character.
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"Many nations are familiar with political repression, and most films on this topic feature male leads," Çelik remarked. "By centering on a female protagonist, I aim to amplify women’s voices within this genre."
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Shot in monochrome, the movie mirrors Çelik’s belief that color can obscure a story’s emotional essence. During the film’s SIFF press conference, he stated his desire for viewers to focus on the story’s rawness and the eyes peering through the narrow wooden gap.
"Night of Blindness" represents the second installment in Çelik’s planned Night Trilogy, following "Night of Silence" (2012), which earned the Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Çelik noted at the press conference that the trilogy overall reflects his worry that humanity is progressing toward a state where people no longer hear, see, or comprehend each other. He also mentioned that a third film, provisionally titled "Sağır Gece" (Night of the Deaf), is in development.
Çelik further expressed that as a filmmaker, he aims to shed light on "certain facets of reality that are being minimized and overlooked," and anticipated that Chinese audiences would resonate with the content. "Turkey and China share many similarities in terms of outlook and history," he stated.
Joining the director at the press event were lead actors İştar Gökşeven, portraying the military commander, and Aydin Orak, playing an inspector. Both were visiting Shanghai for the first time and characterized the experience as "very enjoyable." Gökşeven remarked at the press conference that performing in near-complete darkness compelled him to depend on voice, posture, and shadow to express emotion, calling it a significant gift for an actor.
The Shanghai International Film Festival continues until June 21.
Night of Blindness,
Shanghai International Film Festival
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