Art is the only force that dissolves borders, says Turkish director
Times of India | 8 November 2025
Kolkata: Turkish film-maker Erkan Yazici, whose ‘Fragments From The East' was screened on Friday as part of the international competition of the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), believes that art is the "only force that can dissolve borders".
Yazici, who attended the inaugural session where chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged foreign delegates to invest in the local industry, told TOI that he is keen to explore joint production options to strengthen ties and "foster genuine empathy between our people".
Speaking about how cinema can impact the bilateral ties between India and Turkey, he said, "Politics is temporary, but culture endures. Cinema is one of the most powerful ways to build empathy between nations.
A film can carry the emotional essence of a country — its fears, its hopes, its dreams. In that sense, the cultural bridge between Turkey and India can go deeper than any political alliance. Through cinema, we can recognize ourselves in each other's stories; and that, I believe, is where true understanding begins," he said.
The director pointed out that for his generation, India is inspiring not only for its cinema "but also for its cultural depth and diversity". "
has always managed to stay deeply rooted in its traditions while remaining bold and emotionally sincere.
What fascinates me most is how Indian film-makers can hold spirituality and realism within the same cinematic frame. In that sense, I feel a kind of kinship between the storytelling traditions of Turkey and the oral culture of India — where memory and voice lie at the heart of identity," he said.
"We are eager to discover your culture and see your country. This alone reflects how much genuine affection we, as Turkish people, feel toward India.
As your respected chief minister Mamata Banerjee beautifully said at the opening ceremony: ‘The world is one, and humanity is one'," Yazici added.
Shot in Turkey, at an altitude of 2,700 m, in an area infested with wolves, and under extremely harsh winter conditions, ‘Fragments From The East' explores what happens when a woman escaping the war and a runaway Russian general traverse the snowy mountains together. "In the place where I was born, more than a hundred years ago, people had to experience a similar kind of journey — one marked by war, loss, and the struggle to survive.
These stories have been carried through generations, becoming part of our collective memory. This film was born out of that memory," Yazici said.
"My first feature was also about migration — it tried to understand the psychology of leaving a place, of being uprooted. ‘Fragments from the East' takes that same theme to a more internal level — it's about a woman's confrontation with faith, fear, and the weight of the past," he added.
During shooting, snow machines had to open the paths every morning for the unit to reach the set. "Some days we couldn't shoot at all due to heavy snow or dense fog. Still, my producers always found creative solutions to every obstacle. And I should emphasize — both of my producers are women. Their strength, patience, and determination made this film possible," he added.
KIFF, he said, is a "highly respected event, well-known among independent and art-house film-makers around the world". "I have been following it for a long time. For many directors in Turkey, this festival represents an important milestone in the journey of independent cinema. So, being here with my film is truly a great pleasure for me," he said.