Directly following the Nazi’s rise to power, around a third of professors at German universities lost their positions. What most don’t know: numerous intellectuals, Jews and anti-fascists fled to Turkey, an unknown land of exile. The nation’s founder, Atatürk, had invited the Germans to contribute to his ambitious university reform.
Filmmaker Eren Önsöz accompanies the last descendants of these professors in Switzerland, Germany and Turkey. With the help of five protagonists, who were born and raised in Turkey, she examines this forgotten chapter of German-Turkish history, which still has meaning today.
The established Germans were an integral part of the the Europeanisation of Turkey. But what is left of the transfer of culture and knowledge under Premier Erdogan? When today, in Turkey, Atatürk’s reforms are being undone and secular structures eroded. Does that also hold true for the efforts the exiles made?
Amidst the world-wide refugee crisis, the documentary film poses highly relevant questions and sheds light on the fate of Germany’s academic elites in Turkish exile: Persecuted, pampered and “haymatloz.”
Amidst the world-wide refugee crisis, the documentary film poses highly relevant questions and sheds light on the fate of Germany’s academic elites in Turkish exile: Persecuted, pampered and “haymatloz.”
In theatres starting October 27. More information coming soon.
More info: www.haymatloz.com
