Dormitory

Turkey, 1997: Tensions between religious and secular Turks are gradually increasing. Fourteen-year-old Ahmet (Doğa Karakaş) experiences this firsthand when his newly converted father sends him to an Islamic boarding school, a “yurt.” Ahmet works hard to be a perfect son and to learn Muslim values. But he has difficulty adapting to the harsh customs of the yurt. In his secular day school, where he hides his new home from his classmates, he feels isolated. His only comfort is his new friend Hakan (Can Bartu Arslan) – a streetwise boy who knows the yurt system and with whom he can dream of independence and freedom... Nehir Tuna's feature film debut is restrained yet told in precise, atmospheric images about a young person's inner conflict between religious upbringing and personal self-discovery. In this haunting coming-of-age drama, the portrayal of the main character is particularly strong, precisely because his insecurity and quiet rebellion are conveyed without much dialogue, but with great sensitivity and thoughtfulness. “Yurt” avoids clear-cut judgments and develops its criticism of authoritarian structures in a subtle way, which gives the film great emotional depth. This thoughtful, sensitive film has a lasting impact and was awarded “Best Screenplay” in the “Orizzonti / Horizons” section of the Venice Film Festival and “Best Film” at the Istanbul Film Festival.