In this scene, Ozgur is teaching Muazzez to read from her romantic photo novel. Because of her father’s control over their lives Muazzez and her sisters have not had a formal education (reading, writing, etc.). Muazzez wanted so much to learn to read and write that, while they were away in the mountains, Muazzez persuaded Ozgur to teach her to read. Ozgur came from Antalya, having a formal education and a more progressive outlook than the people of the village of Hakkâri and especially the mayor. In the film, Erdogan points to the illiteracy that existed in the eastern parts of Turkey during the 1970s. Erdogan shows the east as falling behind the western part of Turkey, even though, Turkey made itself look as though it was a modern state. The east was totally overlooked when it came to education, power, and social programs. Through this scene, and many others, Erdogan points out the failings of modern Turkey.
Günaydın Ashland 