Films to watch out for this month: ‘Waltz with Bashir’ and ‘Mustafa’.
Both have made headlines over its controversial story-lines, sparking off much commentary and debate forums.
‘Waltz with Bashir’ (Winner of Best Foreign Independant Film-at the British Independant Film Awards 2008) is an an extraordinary animated documentary by Israeli Film Maker Ari Folman-about the Lebanese Sabra and Chatila massacres of 1982. Just flicking through the reviews, you get a real sense of just how thought provoking this film is. For a more in-depth look into reviews, commentary on the film and discussion groups, click on the following link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/movie/124299/waltz.with.bashir
The film is our in the UK from 21st November 2008.
‘Mustafa’, is a documentary that chronicles the renouned Turkish leader, Mustafa Kamal Ataturk’s life from childhood to his death on November 10th 1938. This film presents an intimate and flawed Ataturk rarely seen before. The film which has drawn large crowds, has fed into a climate of soul searching in Turkey where democratic reforms, social changes and impassioned debate over secularism is shaking the pillars of an autocratic state left by the infamous Ataturk.
Whilst the film has angered hardline secularists whi have called for a boycott, stating the film is an enemy polt to ‘himiliate Turkishness’, Director Can Dundar said, ‘I wantd to show a more human Ataturk than the Ataurk they teach us about at school and in the military service,’.
‘Mustafa’ has spawned extensive commentary in the media since its opening on 29th October 2008 (coinciding with the 85th anniversary of the foundation of the Repulic of Turkey). Nearly half a million film seekers saw it within the first five days of its release. Could be a film worth looking out for…
For more details on ‘Mustafa’ go to: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mustafa-the-movie-divides-turkey-with-a-portrait-of-the-real-ataturk-998232.html
