The place where I grew up brought peace and safety, but later became a barrier to my progress. My cinema journey and Suna’s musical journey are similar: she built her musical connection by detaching from her roots. My experiences drive me to create distorted characters. In this film, Suna is our guide, and the camera will follow her.
We use shoulder shots and follow-ups to convey traveling with Suna, and static shots when emotions are calm. To capture Suna’s hearing experiences, we wanted to make it feel like we were in her body. Music in this film expresses the characters’ existence and emotions, not just as background sound but as a powerful character in its own right. All music is diegetic, heard from sources in the scene, except for a leitmotif that connects scenes and enhances Suna’s mood. Sound adds meaning, and doesn’t just function as a layer. It emphasizes character conflicts, sometimes louder than necessary to challenge its basic role. The editing reflects Suna’s journey through time, with a dreamlike detachment yet emotional integration.
The sinkhole symbolizes the great void in Suna’s life; fractures and evacuation represent the fear of losing traditions. Suna’s synaesthesia, experiencing colours and sounds, reflects mourning and the attempt to understand pain through different senses.
Banu Sıvacı
