Still from Gulistan Land Of Roses
Still from Gulistan Land Of Roses
 

Gulîstan, Land of Roses

by Zaynê Akyol
A personal and powerful exploration of how the women of the PKK train to fight against ISIS in Kurdistan.
2016  ·  1h26m  ·  Canada, Germany
Kurmanji, Turkish
English, French subs
About the Film
They stand at the forefront of the fight for freedom in the Middle East. These young women belong to the armed wing of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is also an active guerrilla movement. From their camp hidden away in the mountains, the women lead a nomadic life, undergoing ideological and practical training before being sent out to the front lines. Their mission? Defend Kurdish territory in Iraq and Syria, and defeat ISIS (the armed militants of the so-called Islamic State group). By capturing their ritualized daily activities, as well as the emotional and intellectual bonds that unite them, GULÎSTAN, LAND OF ROSES sheds light on the lives of these women who are collectively fighting for a revolutionary ideal advocating female empowerment. The film also gives them a powerful voice, and in return, many of them openly share with us their most intimate thoughts and dreams. Even as fighting against ISIS intensifies in the Middle East, these women bravely continue their battle against barbarism. Offering a window into this largely unknown world, GULÎSTAN, LAND OF ROSES exposes the hidden face of this highly mediatized war: the female, feminist face of a revolutionary group united by a common vision of freedom.
Upcoming Screenings

Stay tuned for upcoming screenings!

Festivals and Awards
2016
HotDocs, Official Selection
2016
Visions du Réel, Official Competition
2016
EBS International Documentary Festival, Special Jury Award
2016
Valladolid International Film Festival, Primer Premio - Tiempo de Historia
2016
Doc Alliance, Selection Award
2016
RIDM , Best New Talent from Québec/Canada
2016
Milano Film Festival, Best Feature Film
2017
Trento Film Festival, Jury's Prize
Editor
Mathieu Bouchard-Malo
Cinematographer
Etienne Roussy
Producer
Sarah Mannering, Fanny Drew, Yanick Létourneau, Mehmet Aktaş, Nathalie Cloutier (NFB) and Denis McCready (NFB)
Sound Editor
Olivier Calvert
Sound Recordists
Vincent Laroche-Gagnon, Adel Ton
Soundtrack Composer
Christophe Lamarche-Ledoux
Executive Producers
Yanick Létourneau, Mehmet Aktaş and Colette Loumède
Writer
Zaynê Akyol

Share

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Tumblr
StumbleUpon
Pocket
Telegram
Email