Abstract:

The Enlightenment Revolution that has occured in 19th century has brought along trends such as nationalism, not only ethnic groups within Ottoman empire, but also Turks have began to get acquainted with their identity and have confronted firstly to management and secondly against the other nations by “the other” mentality. In leadership of Eleftherios Venizelos who added and disappeared that era’s political scene, waged war against National Rebellion that Turks give start against invasion and Greek army was rejected unto the shores by a big rejection that they could never have. The First World War allies turned their coat after Turkish military victory, excluded Geeece and began to get into communication with newly founded Turkish Republic’s architects. Turkish victory that leave a deep scar on Greeks’ national memory, economics, politics, shortly its life, has taken important part as 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe. Afterwards being signed Lausanne Peace Treaty, Anatolian Greeks’ destiny was exchange made a wound in both nations, but especially Anatolian Greeks. Greece has been able to adabt the immigrants who are in bad conditions within a very short duration still regarded as a ‘miracle’. Catastrophe that is rarely represented in movies except documentaries was accepted as a nostalgie and a memory from the past that the nation would like to forget and movie makers have choosen to deal with the country’s current problems and social/political variations. The other reason for Asia Minor struggle not being reflected in the movies, the relationships’ gaining a more peaceful axis by two countries’ leaders steps. In the movies it can be easily understood that the one and the only responsible for catastrophe was Greeks who led an invasion over Anatolia and their obsession named Megali Idea, Turks not being barbarian, but giving way to a conflict for a personal revenge emotion. Meanwhile with a descendent exchange there is a reflection on movies for Asia Minor land is not a ‘lost homeland’, but ‘unforgotten homeland’. Current Greek cinema has an increasing role and interest on immigration. On current cinema trends which exhibits a persona centered structure performs successful examples and Asia Minor constitutes a cause or location for the subject handled but being an actual subject. Dealing with this subject is worth examining three films produced on various years which based on two countries’ politics.

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