ZENNE DANCER featured in ´The Economist´
Gays in the army may remain taboo (in Turkey), but a bold new film, “Zenne Dancer”, has sharpened the debate. It was inspired by Ahmet Yildiz, a gay Kurd allegedly killed by his father in 2008 for besmirching the family honour. The film picked up five awards at the recent Golden Orange Film Festival, Turkey’s equivalent of the Oscars. At a packed screening, the jury gasped and many sobbed as Can, a cross-dressing male dancer, and Ahmet, who shares the lead role, staggered out of an army hospital after being examined and getting an exemption slip.
November 17, 2011
