‘Hysteria’ Director Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay Discusses Struggles of Minority Filmmakers in Germany, Breaking Stereotypes, Adapting ‘Mephisto’
variety.comEd Meza @edmezavar Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay’s suspense drama “Hysteria” offers a timely look at Germany’s diverse West Asian community and the subtle racism and hypocrisy that often permeates liberal discourse about immigrants and foreign cultures. “Hysteria” centers on a provocative film being shot by a Turkish-German director about racist arson attacks on German migrant residences in the 1990s.
When a Quran goes up in flames during the shoot, the Arab extras on set are outraged, resulting in a set fraught with tension.
Caught in the crossfire, production intern Elif, played by Devrim Lingnau (“The Empress”), finds herself increasingly drawn into a whirlwind of shame and suspicion.
Büyükatalay, who won the Berlinale’s Best First Feature Award in 2019 for his drama “Oray,” which likewise explores themes of Muslim culture in Germany, is among seven film professionals selected as part of this year’s Face to Face with German Films talent showcase campaign.
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