Darkroom

The city of Mardin, in Turkey, lies near the borders of Syria and Iraq. It is home to many different populations and individuals who have fled the surrounding conflicts. In one of the city’s neighbourhoods, a group of children meet at the Sirkhane Darkroom Workshop, an analogue photography workshop. Turkish filmmaker Asli Baykal delicately records the apparent carefree nature of their daily lives, while exploring their experiences as they learn about photography and its mysteries. Using 16mm film, she captures the sun’s rays which illuminate their outdoor games, their taste for freshly picked pomegranates, the sound of the developer in the darkroom where magic happens... With vivid colours and pacey editing, she shares the children's enthusiasm and wonder, as many snapshots of an everyday life comprising a collective adventure, enhanced by a joyful and musical film.

Alice Riva