Film Screening:

10 to 11
(Pelin Esmer, 2009, 110 min, Turkey & France & Germany, Turkish w/ English Subtitles, Color, 35mm)

Pelin Esmer's feature debut is loosely adapted from the life and habits of her uncle, Mithat Esmer. Mithat lives alone in an apartment in Istanbul, but he is surrounded by souvenirs and audio tapes which he affectionately and simply refers to as his collections. Mithat's Istanbul that is under threat. Not only has his landlord decided to tear down the building, but all around him, Mithat's city is being phased out in ways both personal and public. Esmer's debut shows a rare patience and a lucid view of her home city. As the soul of the film, Mithat is as stubborn as he is charming and wily, and his dignified yet strangely unpredictable presence becomes a commanding force. Through his story, 10 to 11 engages our relationship with our own memories: precious because we know they must eventually fade.

Cost: Free and Open to the Public

Sponsors: Duke Islamic Studies Center (DISC), Program in the Arts of the Moving Image (AMI), Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies, Duke University Middle East Studies Center (DUMESC), and the Franklin Humanities Institute