Zagros (2017)

Directed by: Sahim Omar Kalifa | 102 minutes | drama | Actors: Feyyaz Duman, Maaike Neuville, Aziz Çapkurt, Halima Ilter, Suat Usta, Yusuf Çetin, Steve Van Nuffel, Serkaut Mustafa, Daria Hachem Mohamet Gulli, Leyla Batgi, Karl Ferlin, Brader Musiki, Elvan Kocer, Munip Seven, Ezdam Parilti

The Kurdish Havin prefers to call her husband Zagros ‘shepherd’, after his profession. The way in which she does this is loving, almost poetic. This woman has not blown her mouth and is clearly in charge of the relationship. You can see that in subtle glances, beautifully portrayed by the Belgian filmmaker of Kurdish origin Sahim Omar Kalifa.

The action in the poignantly moving ‘Zagros’ is abruptly started when Havin, when Zagros is in the field, is placed under house arrest by the village elders, say simply kidnapped, because she would have gone into the mountains without a man. It is not for nothing that this independent woman wants to move to Istanbul or Izmir. Or is there more to it?

It soon becomes apparent that there is a cousin in Belgium that Havin has contact with, to start a new life – without Zagros, from whom she says she differs too much. Because Zagros and Havin are married, have a daughter and she is pregnant with a second, this obviously hits the shepherd hard. Yet Havin departs, leaving Zagros stunned but hopeful: he will travel after her and daughter Rayhan.

What possesses a woman from the Turkish-Kurdish mountain country, in order to treat her husband and family in this way, in a culture of honor killing? Seemingly respectfully, Havin Zagros tells her plan, and the woman seems completely convinced of the need to build a new life in Belgium – the viewer with her. Zagros adores Havin and believes every word. And the viewer with him; that is perhaps the most special.

Kalifa plays with the viewer’s sympathy, avoids clichés about escaping origin, and focuses on the interpersonal dynamics: the beautiful, worldly Havin is an opportunist, the other-worldly shepherd Zagros an idealist; such dynamics are found everywhere between lovers. Kurd or Belgian, it doesn’t matter that much, Kalifa seems to say; everywhere the same interests prevail and sometimes love.

Lead players Halima Ilter (Havin) and Feyyaz Duman (Zagros) show themselves very adequately; there is a serrated form of chemistry, as if the two cannot live without each other but have also dozed off. Havin has flair, Zagro’s genuine dedication – as is so often the case in relationships. And Kurds mistrust the same as westerners, because the heart has only one color. It is the same color as that of revenge.