DAR AL HARB - EURABIA: "I DON'T KNOW WHERE EUROPE STARTS & ENDS"

European films paint Islamic portraits
Perspective: Muslim screen scene
By ALI JAAFAR

LONDON -- A group of Turkish dervishes swirl themselves into religious abandonment, the music pounding over the score beating in tandem with their rising intensity. So begins "Takva," the Turkish pic that won the Fipresci prize at this year's Berlinale. Telling the story of Muharrem, a devout Muslim whose life unravels when he is asked by his local imam to become the mosque's rent collector, "Takva" -- or "A Man's Fear of God" to call it by its English title -- places questions about religion and faith front and center.

The film is just one example of an increasing number of filmmakers looking at the role of Islam in Europe or Westernized countries. Others, including "Head-On," "Le Grand Voyage" and "Days of Glory," have all focused on Muslims in the West in recent years, contributing to the debate that has dominated much of the media's agenda since 9/11.

Some pics are already proving that cross-border cooperation is easier than the naysayers thought. Though ostensibly a Turkish feature, "Takva" was made possible only through the involvement of multi-hyphenate Fatih Akin's German shingle Corazon Intl.

Pic out-grossed both "Borat" and "Casino Royale" in Turkey -- a fact all the more noteworthy considering Turkey's secular constitution -- and was warmly received by critics, winning nine awards at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Fest.

In fact, Akin, a German of Turkish origin, has been at the forefront of looking at East-West relations, and particularly the place of Islam within secular societies. His 2004 "Head-On," arguably the single-best depiction of Muslims living in the West to date, won the Golden Bear at Berlin. His next film, "The Edge of Heaven," is set in both Germany and Turkey and will explore the mishmash of multiculturalism that the world has become. Execs at Corazon are hoping the pic will be finished in time to be considered for this year's Cannes.

"You know, I don't know where Europe starts and ends. These days, in this post-9/11 world, some people are trying to divide the world again into West and East, good and bad, Muslims and Christians. We had that 500 years ago and it sucks," says Akin. "As a political artist, I believe that art and politics belong together somehow to fight against that. I know it sounds very idealistic and politically correct, but it's something I believe."

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