Dersaadet Apartmani

The representative Art Nouveau building is the only thing that remains of Altan's home after the sudden death of his parents. The house however has been rented out whilst the former  neighbourhood around it has already disappeared. Tankut Kılınç's first feature film combines a coming to terms with mourning with a reflection on the scars of gentrification, with the fitting introverted yet agile soundtrack provided by the Istanbul-based independent oriental dub band Baba Zula. “İstanbul, the city where I live, is fighting for its life. The great history and culture of the city are set for destruction under rapid overdevelopment under rent-seeking urban renewal initiatives. As the city is destroyed, in a sense, so are the people in it. The City of the Seven Hills, the poetic heart of two continents, is about to drown in metal and concrete. I had to speak out against this process: With DERSAADET APARTMENT, I want to call out to people to protect their own cities and their identities.“