9/8fight41
Gizem Aksu
a 9/8 fight for all of us
This documentary short dance film is based on Gizem Aksu’s spectral friendship with Sinti boxing legend of Germany, Johann Rukeli Trollmann (1907-1944) and the inter-generational and inter-geographical journey of this friendship.
Rukeli Trollmann was exposed to many forms of discrimination by the Nazi regime because of “boxing by dancing like Gypsy” and was murdered in the Wittenberge Concentration Camp. Inspired by the fight of Rukeli Trollmann, the film traces the artist’s experience of immigration to Berlin and the fight for justice in Istanbul.
In Istanbul, three more dancers join the dance/fight of Rukeli by sharing the power of dance in their fight for justice: Gizem Nalbant, who experienced urban transformation in Romani neighborhood, Sulukule where she was born and grew up; Banu Açıkdeniz who has been researching on feminist body politics; and Sema Semih, who has been part of LGBTQI+ movement for many years. As it carries Rukeli’s story to Istanbul’s Romani Neighborhoods, Sulukule and Fikirtepe; the film throws a 9/8 rhythmical look into Istanbul’s recent urban memory through the bodies of dancers.
Turkish with English subtitles,
Duration: approx. 30 min.
Coproduction by HELLERAU European Center for the Arts & Goethe Institut Istanbul Supported by KALAN MUSIC & Tonic Effects
Direction, Choreography & Editing: Gizem Aksu
Direction of Photography: Derin Cankaya (Dresden)
Derin Cankaya & Gizem Aksu (Berlin)
Ece Latifaoğlu (İstanbul)
Dancers / Dansçılar: Banu Açıkdeniz, Gizem Aksu, Gizem Nalbant, Sema Semih
Special Appearance by Cansel Yılmazgil and Yasemin Akbaş from Fikirtepe Neighborhood Fikirtepe Mahallesi sakinlerinden Cansel Yılmazgil ve Yasemin Akbaş
Original Music & Mixing: Emre Malikler Music : Kardeş Türküler, Şukar Şukar Production Consultancy: Dilek Aydın
Outside Eye : Zeynep Güzel
Conversations on Dramatic Composition: Aslı Melisa Uzun Colorist : Elif Tekneci – Tonic Effects
Secondary Editing : Derin Cankaya
Team in Istanbul
Line Producer / Yürütücü Yapımcı : Zilan İmşik
Project Assistant / Proje Asistanı: Efe Durmaz
Shamanic Ritual for Rukeli’ye İthafen Şamanik Ritüel: Elif Özkoç Costume / Kostüm: Banu Açıkdeniz, Efe Durmaz
Transportation / Ulaşım: Ayhan Turan
Gimbal Operator: Oğuzhan Gençtürk
Bells Advisor / El Zili Danışmanı: Sema Yıldız
Boxing Class / Boks Dersi: Gülcan Güven
Rehearsal Space / prova Mekanı: Çıplak Ayaklar Studio
Stage / Sahne: Moda Sahnesi
Location Manager in Fikirtepe Mekan Sorumlusu: Engin Işık
Special Thanks
Carena Schlewitt Petra Diehl
Reimar Volker André Schallenberg Rosa Müller
Mani Pournaghi Azar
Hacer Foggo & Derin Yoksulluk Ağı (Deep Poverty Network)
Lake Studios Berlin
Be Mobile Create Together Project
Hans-Georg Lorenz
Meliha Bress
Yasemin İliktekin
Onur Kapkıran
Hüseyin Yılmaz
Nuh Duran
Bülent Nalbant
Emirhan Çölgeçen
Levent Ağırtaş
Joe Dumit
Eytan İpeker
Leyla Postalcıoğlu
Boğaziçi Gösteri Sanatları Topluluğu (Boğaziçi Performing Arts Ensemble) Ferit Okan Tokmak
Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası
Moda Sahnesi
Bingöl İli Yayladere İlçesi Kırköy Yardımlaşma ve Dayanışma Derneği,
Halime Erkin ve Fikirtepe Mahallesinin Tüm Sakinleri (and all Residents of Fikirtepe Neighborhood)
Artworks
9841 Monument for Johann ‘Rukeli’ Trollmann by Bewegung Nurr (Dresden) Art Project Stolpersteine by Gunter Demnig (Berlin)