Ferit Karahan and the making of Brother’s Keeper

BROTHER’S KEEPER by Ferit Karahan, Winner of the FIPRESCI Award in the Panorama section and one of the breakout titles of the festival, was one of the most best discoveries of this year Berlinale. The film tells the story of Yusuf and his best friend Memo who are pupils at a boarding school for Kurdish boys secluded in the Anatolian mountains. When Memo falls mysteriously ill, Yusuf must convince the school’s repressive authorities to get help before it’s too late. This tightly wound and beautifully photographed second feature from director Ferit Karahan digs at deep issues of repression and control while never losing sight of its touching, intimate story of innocence confronting power. We had a chance to interview the filmmaker following the screening of the film at Berlinale 2021.

Interview conducted by Amir Ganjavie for UNIVERSALCINEMA.CA