MENDOCINO, Italy — A hall in Italy was bustling with an audience watching a film of two Kurdish immigrants trekking to Europe and wanting to reach Germany, but ended up finding themselves in Sweden.
The film is a Kurdish-Swedish production named ‘Hoppet’ by Peter Stormare. It was shown this month in the town of Mendicino in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, in southern Italy. It was the third film showcased in the town over the past three months.
The film tells the story of two Kurdish teens, Azad and Dijla, wanting to trek to Germany, but ending up in Sweden. Dijla, following a bombing on Kurdistan loses his ability to speak. Azad 12, dreams of becoming a world champion in high jumping. Azad’s talents inspire him and his brother to go to Germany to compete with the hope of being able to reunite with family.
Zryan Shirai, a Kurdish immigrant, believes showing such films is an important way for Kurds to introduce themselves to Europe.
“A few days before the film was showcased, we thought it was necessary to visit some schools and teachers in Mendicino together with my friends to introduce them to Kurds and the situation of Kurdistan,” he told Rudaw.
“It was something very new for them… the teachers and students they now know about Kurdistan,” he explained.
The city Mendicino has announced a project for immigrants named SPRAR Project (Protection System for Refugees and Asylum Seekers). Part of the project is to introduce other nations’ cultures Italy. Films are considered to be a good tool to enrich their project.
Half of the Hobbit (2007) is filmed in the Kurdistan Region and the other in Sweden. A number of Kurdish actors appeared in the film. The film was translated into Italian for the project.
Mariya Sikalsi, an Italian woman who teaches immigrants the Italian language, is the founder of the SPRAR Project.
“My aim in the project was to introduce the nations’ cultures, and bringing migrants and the residents of Mendicino town together,” Sikalsi said.
She added that they did a lot of advertising for the film before it was shown.
“Fortunately, the film received a warm welcome,” she added.
Antonio Palermo, the mayor of Mendicino, hailed the idea of showing the story of immigrants who are seeking asylum in Europe.
“Showing such films and cultural activities benefits all sides. It allows all of us to be acquainted with other cultures. As a municipality, we will continue to support such projects. And undoubtedly it is very important to assist migrants, and we also want them enjoy their time with such art projects.”
About 10,000 people permanently live in the Italian comune. A large number of Kurds, Africans, Arabs and eastern Europeans are there seeking asylum.
An official trailer for the Kurdish-Swedish Hoppet film.
