Laborfest: From Turkey-The International /Beynelmilel

The International / Beynelmilel (106 min) 2006 West Coast Premier (also shown on July 10 in San Francisco)
By Muharrem Gulmez & Sirri Sureyya Onder (Turkey)
This is an award winning film and Gulmez and Onder are award winning directors, at the 2007 Ankara Int'l Film Festival of the 2007 Istanbul International Film Festival, the 2007 Moscow International Film Festival and the 2007 Tessaloniki International Film Festival: For all of the awards, please go to:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0893507/awards
Set in Adiyaman, Turkey, the business for a group of local musicians hits rock bottom due to curfew laws implemented in 1982 by the US supported military coup in 1980. The repression by the junta takes a twist when the region’s martial law commander decides he needs a band for the upcoming visit of the junta generals. The town band is now ordered to put on some uniforms and perform a welcoming ceremony for the military council’s visit to the town. At the same time, the daughter of the local orchestra’s head becomes involved with the town revolutionaries who are seeking to make a statement against the generals. The life and music of the people of Turkey is merged in the struggle to expose and challenge the brutal military rule. This film was one of the most popular films in Turkey about military rule and resistance. Sirri Sureyya Onder was born in Adiyaman in 1962. He was a political science student at Ankara University during the military coup of September 12, 1980. He was one of the students arrested during the riots and was convicted as a political felon. Önder served 12 years in Mamak Prison. He defines himself as a distressed person, a man who feels a responsibility for the land he lives in.
See also:
http://www.laborfest.net/2008schedule.htm