Ahmet Necdet Çupur is a young Turkish director. At his younger sister’s request, Ahmet returns home and finds a situation he deems worthy of documenting. His brother, Mahmut, is in the process of divorcing his wife by arranged marriage. At the same time, his sister, Zeynep, attempts to enroll in a high school in the hopes of eventually going to college. Their parents have different ideas, expressing them quite clearly: Mahmut must stay married to keep the woman’s dowry, and Zeynep shouldn’t seek schooling because she should serve her parents before being married off.
Ahmet is a prime example of what can happen outside of the family’s home, but their father’s strict adherence to Sharia law and the most conservative tenets of Islam limit their possibilities. Mahmut and Zeynep struggle against a culture that forces a fate upon them while ignoring their passions and desires, putting them at odds with their conservative parents.
Ahmet’s objective and honest portrayal of an incredibly volatile family situation is a resounding success. The cinematography from start to finish is enrapturing. It catches the attention in the first few minutes and never lets go. Zeynep and Mahamut are interesting people caught in bad situations forced upon them by parents who treat them less as people and more as dolls. Their struggles are extreme, but they are not unique. Most people can identify with the struggle between a child and their parent's undue expectations.
Les Enfants Terribles serves as a case study into the social changes ongoing in Turkey as modern life and expectations continue to fracture and override conservative Muslim traditions dating back to the Ottoman Empire. The Çupur family serves as a window into a broader culture, and their conflicts and desires are easy to identify with, making this documentary a must-see. Editor’s Choice.
Where does this title belong on public and academic library shelves?
Les Enfants Terribles belongs on biography, ethnography, religious documentary, and Turkish language shelves.
What kind of instructors would use this title?
Professors of the Modern Middle East, Turkish history or culture, Islam, comparative religions, women's studies, and sociology would get the most use from Les Enfants Terribles.
What is the retail price and/or Public Performance License fee?
Vimeo Rental: $3.99 Vimeo Purchase: $9.99 / Available for previewing and streaming on Docuseek2