DYING TO DIVORCE is a no-holds barred look at the rise of femicide and domestic violence towards women in Turkey.
If you think that Turkey is a country with 21st century values, think again. Alas, it used to be more so, but in recent years politics and a severe swing towards regressive values means that women’s rights are increasingly being ignored, by an increasingly patriarchal system.
1 in 3 women suffer domestic violence in Turkey, and as this documentary reveals, when they try to file for divorce or ask for help, they are let down by a broken legal system that increasingly favours men, or simply ignores women’s petitions.
Told through the progression of two cases as they go to trial, both exhibiting clear, handicapping, brutal violence, the documentary makes for harsh but necessary viewing. Shot over several years, it highlights how Turkey is slipping backwards in its attitudes to women. With a straight-forwards, classic journalistic style, Director Chloe Fairweather lays out the timeline and facts into an easy to assimilate film, cleanly edited and accurately shot. Not so much a debate as a faithful diary, DYING TO DIVORCE, has already won a couple of awards, and is set to win more. It is also Chloe Fairweather’s debut as a director, and the film has been shortlisted for the Oscars.
However, what makes this film stand out, is not stylish format, but the honest documentation of the unshakable solidarity these wonderful Turkish women share. Born into a far freer country, they are fighting for the right to retain the freedom of choice that is being taken from them. This has the effect of highlighting even more, how insidious and callous is Turkey’s regression back to medieval values. This is not just bad for them, but bad for the world.
What also shines out is Fairweather’s dedication to the documentary’s central subject, Turkish feminist lawyer, Ipek Bozkurt, whose tireless tenacity and perseverance in helping the women who ask for her help, is a lesson in humanity for all of us. Increasingly censored by a state that will hear nothing against it, Ipek keeps going and is positive they will win out. And if we all publicise what is going on, there is a good chance they will win. This is because, unlike other countries where the rights of women have been and are so routinely abused, the women have heartbreakingly low standards, many Turkish women have been brought up to expect freedom, a fair hearing, and not the violence and oppression they now face.
And what can we do to help this very big human rights issue? Watch the film, and share and spread what is happening.
Review by fellow writer/director, Jane A. Foster, who loves to support all British films. janecreates@23films.com
