The Women of Mount Ararat

This observational documentary follows a group of young and emancipated Kurdish women who are trying to make a difference in their own lives as well as in the destiny of their people. After fifteen years of armed combat in Turkey, the Kurdish guerrilla has been forced to withdraw into the mountains of Northern Iraq. Women have formed their own guerrilla group, totally independent from the men. Their driving force has much to do with finding their own way, not only in war situations but also in life in general, and this differs from their families’ expectations. By talking about their views and their behaviour when they were captured and tortured by the enemy, the young women disclose their individual lives. Their strategy is to be organised in “mangas,” small, autonomous formations of six. These young and determined women are trying to escape from the Turkish army, but also the Iraqi military and Kurdish YNK. The first sentence in the documentary poses the question, “Is it a terrorist that speaks your language?” Throughout the film, the young women attempt to find the answer not only for the world, which they feel has abandoned them, but also for themselves. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)