Clair-obscur is a term that derives from historical renaissance painting – Chiaroscuro in art is the use of strong contrasts between light and shadow. The film’s story unfolds through the parallel lives of its two main characters Sehnaz (Funda Eryigit), a restless, attractive young psychiatrist, and Elmas (Ecem Uzun), a quiet religious girl unhappily married off to a much older man. Sehnaz works in a hospital in an offseason beach town. Her boyfriend Cem is played by Mehmet Kurtuluş, a German-Turkish actor who is familiar to audiences in his role in Tatort. Elma’s closeted life of drudgery is contrasted to Sehnaz’s freedom as a modern professional. At first glance, the two women’s circumstances look and feel very different, but it becomes apparent that they are equally affected by male narcissism, impotence, forced rape, and patriarchal desire. Sehnaz and Elmas are from completely different backgrounds, the two sides of Turkish society, and in this story both the modern and the traditional repress the women as they confront their need for love and self-determination.
I am immersing myself in contemporary Turkish culture and language as I am living and working in Istanbul. In choosing this film I identified with both Elmas’ and Sehnaz’ experiences: the emotional space, the sexual power relations, political patriarchy, the silence, religious dogmatism, the imagery, the internal landscape, its scars and traumas, and the politicised act of self-care. (Noor Afshan Mirza)

Preise für ›Clair Obscur‹
Golden Tulip for Best Director – Istanbul International Film Festival 2017 | Special Mention, Golden Anchor Award– Haifa International Film Festival 2016 | Silver Crow Pheasant for Best Director – Kerala International Film Festival 2016