We were allowed to create the Digital Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM) and the Digital Cinema Packages (DCP) of “Heimatweh” for Gülsel Özkan / The Future Design Company for storage at the Federal Archive:
One normally exchanges goods, not people. But the “population exchange” between Greece and Turkey a hundred years ago affected over 2 million people. Greeks from Anatolia and Turks from Greece had to leave their homes.
Today, one in five people in Greece and one in fifteen in Turkey are said to be descendants of this systematic uprooting. In addition to the ideas of the nation state that emerged in the 20th century, religious affiliation in particular was a dividing line that led to violent excesses and expulsions. The idea of resettlement organized according to ethnic and religious principles caused unimaginable misfortune and misery on both sides of the resettled people. A “homelandsickness” that has not been healed to this day.
To this day, few people know about this period. Not only are endless tragedies buried in the massacres and expulsions, but also an important part of the history of the 20th century, which became a cruel example, almost a model. The conflicts between Turkey and Greece, which are still smouldering today, have their roots in the historical memories and traumas that are essential to both Greek and Turkish identity. With the fighting words: Nation and religion. It seems that time heals everything but the wounds.
