Villager in southern Turkey wants to make second film with women’s theater group

MUĞLA – DHA

Ümmiye Koçak, the founder of the Arslanköy Women’s Theater Group in the Arslanköy village in the southern Turkish province of Mersin, wants to shoot a follow-up to her first film “Yün Bebek” (Wool Doll). 

The first budget film, which focused on the issue of violence against women, brought Koçak the award for “Best Eurasian Actress in Cinema” at the New York Eurasian Film Festival in 2014.

A screening of “Wool Doll” was recently held in the western province of Muğla’s Datça district, during which primary school graduate Koçak, 59, said she wanted to shoot a sequel. 

“I want everyone to see this film. It has been screened in many parts of Turkey. If I can find a sponsor, I want to shoot ‘Wool Doll 2.’ The character of Elif in the film studied and became a teacher despite difficult conditions … Those who had the advantage of studying extended a helping hand to children like Elif. That is why I want to make a follow-up to ‘Wool Doll,’” Koçak said. 

“We women are the slaves of TV series and nonsense programs. We need to shake ourselves up. We are smart; we can do anything we want,” she added.

Born in 1957 in a village in Adana, Koçak was unable to continue her education after primary school in a family with 10 siblings. After completing primary school, however, she read many books for her own self-development, the first and most crucial being “The Mother” by Maxim Gorky. 

Koçak moved to the village of Arslanköy after getting married, and there she formed the “Arslanköy Women’s Theater Group” in 2001 to raise awareness of the lives of women in rural areas.

She later wrote and directed “Wool Doll” after saving the money she earned by working in the fields in Arslanköy.