Turkish director Emin Alper's film 'Salvation' has premiered in competition at the Berlin Film Festival, exploring the psychological roots of violence through a story inspired by a 2009 massacre in Turkey. The drama follows a village leader's descent into extremism amid land disputes and religious fervor. Alper draws parallels to contemporary global conflicts without making direct references.
Emin Alper, who previously brought 'A Tale of Three Sisters' to the Berlinale in 2019 and 'Burning Days' to Cannes in 2022, returns to Berlin with 'Salvation,' his fifth feature. Set in a remote Turkish mountain village, the film centers on Mesut, played by Caner Cı̇ndoruk, a man overshadowed by his younger brother Sheikh Ferit (Feyyaz Duman). Their grandfather was a revered local Sheikh, passing leadership to the younger sibling, leaving Mesut grappling with insecurities, including anxieties over his pregnant wife's fidelity and dreams troubling his mind.
The narrative unfolds amid a land dispute with outsiders, fueling a sense of collective threat in the community. Mesut, initially a 'low-status grudge-bearer,' emerges as a reluctant leader, convincing villagers of a sacred mission to protect their way of life. The film blends reality and dream sequences without clear distinctions, incorporating omens like burned fields, storms, and a sleepwalking child to evoke unease. These elements draw from Sufi traditions where dreams convey religious messages, shaping both individual and collective paranoias.
'Salvation' is inspired by a real 2009 event in Turkey's Mardin Province, where 12 family members raided a wedding in the Kurdish region, killing 44 people, including women and children, and orphaning over 60. Alper, who holds a PhD in history, investigated how a leader persuades others to commit such acts. In an interview, he explained: 'How can a leader convince the others? ... I found myself writing a story that has references to the modern history of humanity which involves these kinds of mass murders, massacres, genocides, and wars.' He highlighted sacred missions—religious or secular—that justify violence, noting timeliness amid issues like the Palestinian conflict and leaders such as Netanyahu, Trump, and Putin.
The film avoids overt political allegory, focusing on cultural specifics while allowing broader applicability. Reviewed on February 11, 2026, at the BFI Stephen Street screening room, it runs 120 minutes under the original title 'Kurtulus.' Production involves France, Netherlands, Greece, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia, with Alper on screenplay and direction, alongside cinematographers Ahmet Sesigürgil and Barış Aygen.
