DJ Ahmet: A Pink Sheep, A Speaker and Big Dreams

Some films help us understand once again why cinema is considered the seventh art. They take us from one emotion to another, allow us to empathize with multiple characters, and remind us of feelings and worlds we may have forgotten. They encourage us to challenge our minds with different subjects that we do not usually feel the need to engage with in today’s world, making us reflect. While doing all this, they skillfully make use of the visual possibilities of cinema. Throughout the film, we move between the shades that lie between black and white, which, just like in real life, are never entirely clear. In the end, we find ourselves thinking about what could potentially happen to us and letting out a brief sigh of relief, just as we would in real life.

The film takes place in Yörük village in North Macedonia, where Turkish communities predominantly live, and is directed and written by North Macedonia-born filmmaker Georgi M. Unkovski. It presents the daily lives of Ahmet and his younger brother Naim in the village, portraying their family relationships, their passion for music, and their attempts to adapt to the new worlds brought by outsiders who arrive in the village, all through the realism of today. In order to listen to music, Ahmet sells the pink sheep that life offers him in exchange for the one he lost and buys himself a loudspeaker. To watch his video that has appeared on TikTok, he connects to Wi-Fi from the garden of a friend’s house who has internet access at home, so that the connection is stronger.

Ahmet’s passion for music connects him to a pure love story at the age of fifteen with Aya, who is devoted to dance. This innocent love between the two young people unfolds during the field gatherings where Ahmet performs as a DJ, accompanied by childlike amusements. Ahmet embarks on various efforts to help Aya, who is being forced into an arranged marriage, gain her freedom. The film is so well adapted to the present day that we see how these children hold on to life in that small village, how they connect with the world, and we witness their struggle to sustain their own reality. Youth love stories that have been told for centuries are reinterpreted through the lens of today’s generation, portraying their rebellion and their determination to follow what they believe in, in a way that fully represents the present.

From a cinematographic perspective, the authentic characters we see within the village’s original pastoral setting, along with the successful editing transitions, prevent us from being confined to a single emotion; throughout the film, we often find ourselves smiling, while at times also appreciating the director’s skill in both screenplay and editing. The cast consists of the real residents of the Yörük village, selected through auditions that lasted for days in the village. This offers the audience the opportunity to experience the realistic expressions of new and distinctive faces that are truly engaging to watch. If you are interested, I am also sharing here a short interview with the actors and the director. My recommendation would be to watch it after seeing the film. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtzRkEPq7g