Fatih Akin’s Film on Armenian Genocide Opens in Turkey amid Security

Director Fatih Akin at a premiere of his film, ‘The Cut.’

ISTANBUL—German Turkish filmmaker Fatih Akin’s movie “The Cut” premiered in Turkey on Thursday amid high security and high praise. The Radikal newspaper reported that Akin was accompanied by seven bodyguards at the premiere of the movie and the following evening. The premiere of the movie with a total budget of $20 million was attended by a number of celebrities. Prominent Armenian photographer from Istanbul Ara Güler was also present at the event.

Several Turkish actors and directors shared their opinions of the film in interviews with Agos Weekly following the preview in Turkey. The actors and directors have praised the film devoted to the Armenian Genocide.

“The film presents the historic events that have been completely overlooked. It’s safe to say that it was a very daring film. It’s very hard to make a film that presents a tragedy,” Turkish actress Serra Yılmaz said.

The story offers a window onto the Armenian Genocide which started in 1915 and led to the death of 1.5 Million Armenians and consequently their displacement across the world.

The story follows Nazaret Manoogian, an Armenian blacksmith played by Tahar Rahim, who is separated from his family when he is forced into labor for the Ottoman Empire. He survives the mass killings but loses his ability to speak and begins to search for his family members who he learns were on a death march. When he finds out that his daughters are alive, he resumes his journey searching for his daughters once again.

The film follows Akin’s previous films, Head On (2004) and Edge of Heaven (2007), as the third installment in a semi-connected series.

As we follow the journey, and witness the atrocities, we are speechless just like Nazaret who lost his ability to speak, as though he is also simply just watching like us as the tragedy unfolds.