Gulîstan, Land of Roses
This documentary travels deep into the mountains and deserts of Kurdistan, where armed female guerillas from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) defend Kurdish territory against ISIS. These women share their most intimate thoughts with filmmaker Zaynê Akyol, resulting in an immersive audience experience. By offering a window into this largely unknown world, the film exposes the hidden feminist face of a revolutionary group united by a common vision of freedom.
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This documentary travels deep into the mountains and deserts of Kurdistan, where armed female guerillas from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) defend Kurdish territory against ISIS. These women share their most intimate thoughts with filmmaker Zaynê Akyol, resulting in an immersive audience experience. By offering a window into this largely unknown world, the film exposes the hidden feminist face of a revolutionary group united by a common vision of freedom.
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participationSozdar CudîRojen BêrîtanNupelda HerekolSilan DoxanSozdar CemalAvasin SilanDevrim CiziriEvindar DelilaEdessa AmaraZozan BotanBeritan DerikAzer PepuleAdar AraratBercem AmedRonak GeverErivan MakoAhmet RubarFeride AlkanRoza Sila NudaNujin DerikBinevs BatmanDuran KalkanCuma BilikiRubar TeyiMedya HunerViyan DilaraDayan EfrinTavin TekosinBeritan UrfaBerivan SaryaSerbest ZagrosBerivan DersimAxin KiciHevidar DevrimNuda XemginTirej SerhedBerivan EfrinSimal DilsozDelil CudiKendal AmanosXelil GeverSimko SorkewDilbirin GewerHerekol Kici
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writerZaynê Akyol
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directorZaynê Akyol
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executive producerYanick LétourneauColette LoumèdeMehmet Aktas
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producerSarah ManneringFanny DrewYanick LétourneauMehmet AktasNathalie CloutierDenis McCready
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director of photographyÉtienne Roussy
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editorMathieu Bouchard-Malo
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assistant directorPamina Dittmann
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supplementary footageZaynê Akyol
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soundmanVincent Laroche-GagnonAdel Ton
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additional sound recordingShahram Ahmadian
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associate producerZaynê Akyol
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production managerSarah ManneringFanny DrewSaid Nur Akkus
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production coordinatorConstance MalpelChinda PhommarinhIsabelle Limoges
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production accountantPascal Larose
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production assistantJanna HeineNihat NuyanErdal KirikImad Lezgin
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driverSerdar Alturk
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script consultantDiane PoitrasMehmet Aktas
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post-production supervisorAndrée-Anne Roussel
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assistant editorAndrée-Anne Roussel
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sound designOlivier Calvert
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music composerChristophe Lamarche-Ledoux
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online editorYannick Carrier
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technical support - editingPierre DupontIsabelle PainchaudPatrick Trahan
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re-recordingSerge Boivin
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foleyLise Wedlock
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foley technicianGeoffrey Mitchell
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graphic designerMarie-Claude MarquisGabriel Jasmin
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marketing managerFrançois Jacques
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marketing manager - assistanceMichelle Rozon
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administratorSia Koukoulas
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administrative assistantPascale Savoie-Brideau
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technical coordinatorMira Mailhot
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line productionMélanie Lasnier
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legal consultantRemy Khouzam
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insuranceGlobalex
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financial servicesBanque Nationale du Canada
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translationZaynê AkyolT&S CoopBerivan AlmamiHatice Aktas
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subtitlesZaynê AkyolT&S CoopMitosfilm
Warnings: guns
Using a map, atlas or website, locate Kurdistan and find the region that is featured in this film, and note the surrounding countries. The film shows the camaraderie of the women in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). What reasons would they have for joining a military group?
Around the 33-minute mark, Sazdar says, “Freedom begins with the woman.” Then she shares her thoughts on capitalism: “What does capitalism do, it reduces the people to nothing, it weakens and destroys their minds and souls. It creates robotic people.” Reflect on these comments or other comments from the film, and discuss your thoughts with the class. What questions do you have after watching the film?
