Wim Wenders says German director İlker Çatak’s Turkey-set warning against creeping authoritarianism gave jury ‘chills’
Yellow Letters, a drama set in Turkey about creeping authoritarianism, has won the Golden Bear top prize at the Berlin film festival, after a 10-day event overshadowed by a row over politics in cinema.
The film by the German director İlker Çatak, born in Berlin to Turkish immigrants, tells the story of two luminaries of the Ankara theatre scene whose marriage comes under severe strain when they lose their jobs after falling out of political favour. Its title comes from the colour of the official dismissal notices.
Wim Wenders, the veteran German film-maker and jury president of the 76th Berlinale, said the feature gave the jury “chills” with its warning of “signs of despotism” and a threat of repression “that could possibly happen in our countries”.
“This film will be understood worldwide, I promise you,” said Wenders, who faced a storm of criticism as the festival opened over his comments on movies and activism.
