Salvation
This Silver Bear-winning political thriller explores a rift between two brothers against the backdrop of a violent border dispute in the mountains of Turkey.
With his new film, Turkish director Emin Alper (Burning Days, R&A 2022) proves himself to be one of the leading figures in the political thriller genre. Whereas his previous films have dealt with topics such as corruption, this one delves into the dynamics of mass killings, genocide, and the outbreak of war. The film draws inspiration from a 2009 massacre in the Mardin region, where 44 people were murdered at a wedding celebration, and parallels to ongoing conflicts are unavoidable.
This thought-provoking film depicts an age-old land ownership dispute between two tribes living in the remote regions of Eastern Anatolia, which leads to clashes and bloodshed. Suspicion, dominion, and resentment intertwine with dreams and beliefs, leading to irreversible acts as a character who stokes the rhetoric of vengeance brings together those ready to resort to violence.
Like Alper’s previous films, the atmosphere in Salvation is menacing, but this time it culminates in surreal and even nightmarish scenes. Amid a stellar cast, Feyyaz Duman (Earth Song, R&A 2026), who has also acted in Finland, shines in a top-notch performance as Sheikh Ferit, the leader of the Sufi brotherhood.
Omar Fasolah (translated by Moritz Müller)
Screenings
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Kino TöölöFri 18.9. at 20.45–22.45120 min, 1/4
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Kino Engel 2Sat 19.9. at 15.30–17.30120 min, 2/4
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Kino Engel 1Sat 26.9. at 12.00–14.00120 min, 3/4
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Kino Engel 2Sun 27.9. at 20.30–22.30120 min, 4/4