BROKEN MUSSELS (Kirik midyeler)

U.S. Premiere

(Turkey/Sweden/Bosnia-Herzegovina, Drama; 2011. 94 minutes.)

Director : Seyfettin Tokmak
Producer : Serkan Cakarer, Lizette Jonjić
Editor : Ciccek Kahraman
Production company : +90 Productions
Screenwriter : Kenan Kavut
Cinematographer : Mehmet Zengin
Music : Fredrik Viklund
Cast: Ugur Baris Mehmetoglu, Seydo Celik, Engin Benli, Selma Alispahic, Ipek Kizilors

Synopsis : Styled as a gritty drama about street urchins roaming the underbelly of Turkey’s capital and dreaming of going to Germany, Broken Mussels ventures into the slums of Istanbul. There are organ traffickers, sick immigrants hiding from the law, slum lords, and relentless competition between street peddlers, many of whom are children like the two main characters. Turf wars are a way of life in this closed world.  The metaphorical mussels are stand-in for a hopeless dream, another mirage luring the boys into its empty embrace. Timid friendship with the orphaned Bosnian girl is one thing these kids have going in circumstances beyond any child’s power to change.