In her first cinematographic film, artist Eleni Kamma revisits the tradition of the Karagoz Theatre and its role in the creation of a political voice.
Although Karagoz is a local character symbolizing the “little man” within the limits of the Ottoman Empire, he belongs to a larger puppet theatre family. He speaks of what the people want to hear and what the people want to say.

Yar bana bir eglence. Notes on Parrhesia. reflects upon the term “parrhesia”, which implies not only freedom of speech but also the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at personal risk, by questioning how the notion of entertainment relates to personal expression and public participation.

This is where the artist links to the Gezi Park protests in 2013, in which humor and creativity were key elements in mocking the political regimes. Filmic fragments from the National Cypriot television archive alternate with the voices of Cypriot, Greek, and Turkish Karagoz masters discussing language, history, tools, and the political role of the medium.

CREDITS

Written, directed, and produced by Eleni Kamma

With the voices of:
Alize Garip, Baris Mumyakmaz, Ilgin Deniz, Akseloglu Kardes Türküler, Emin Senyer, Tacettin Dikker, Cengiz Özek, Yannis Kissonergis, Panos Panagiotopoulos, Mavilli Collective, Christodoulos Antoniou Pafios, Anna Maragou, Thodoris Kostidakis, Euripides Dikaios, Takis Hadjittofis, Athos Danellis Uygar, Çehreli Gani, Ömür Çekem, Samet Kesen.

Performers:
Adaline Anobile, Jaime Vicente Liopis Segarra, Michiel Reynaert
Master craftsmen and shadow puppeteers in action: Emin Senyer, Yannis Kissonergis

Choreography advisor: Michiel Reynaert
Camera: Boris Van Hoof
Dolly operator, Maastricht: Jessica Van Rüschen
Sound: Boris van Hoof, Andreas Haralambous, Ilgin Deniz, Akseloglu & Ferhat Tokmak,
Jessica van Rüschen
Editing: Inneke Van Waeyenberghe
Sound design and mix: Laszlo Umbreit
Post-production supervision: Inneke Van Waeyenberghe
Script montage and editing: Tina van Baren
Graphic design: Maaike Beuten, Garage 64
Color grading and mastering: Paul Millot, Cobalt Films
Gezi Park still images: Eleni Kamma

Specific footage credits:
Camera: Andreas Haralambous (Panel discussion, NIMAC, Cyprus)
Camera: Ilgin Deniz Akseloglu & Ferhat Tokmak (Interviews with Gezi protesters, Istanbul

Props design and realization: Ron Bernstein, Heimo Lab, Van Eyck, Maastricht
Stage lighting design, Maastricht: Paul van Laak
Silkscreen fabrics Margriet Thissen, Charles Nypels Lab, Van Eyck, Maastricht
Prints on paper QS Graphics, Maastricht Post-production

Co-produced by Jubilee and Netwerk center for contemporary Art Aalst,
(Nicosia Municipal Arts Center), PiST/// Istanbul and the Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht.

With the support of The Mondrian Fund, NiMAC (Nicosia Municipal Arts Center), PiST/// Istanbul, SoundImageCulture (SIC), the Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht and VAF (Flanders Audiovisual Fund), and Jubilee.

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