ROJDA SEYİDXAN                                                       

Qamishlo - Rojava Film Commune makes the name of North East Syria heard in the world by producing numerous films, documentaries, and visual works. The commune shot a documentary film named, “Love In The Face Of Genocide” (Kurdish: Evîn di rûyê qirkirinê de) about Shengal and genocide against the people of Shengal. The documentary film (2021) was directed by Shero Hinde. The film tells the stories of the people of Shengal through songs sung by Dengbêjs (Storytellers, who sing without using any musical instruments). We spoke to Rojava Film Commune member Safînaz Evdikê about the documentary film.

Dengbêj tell the genocide

“The documentary film features Dengbêj of Shengal, history teachers, researchers, and experts in Kurdish history. In one part of the documentary, we asked them to tell the oral history of the region. We began to shoot the documentary film in 2019 and released it in 2021. The documentary film is a 52-minute documentary film. The war and genocide against the people of Shengal are told by the songs of storytellers. The songs sung by the storytellers encompass a variety of profound themes including love, war, family, lullabies, journeys, and other experiences. The documentary film tells the history of massacres and edicts against Êzidî Kurds through dengbêjs.