09/10/2013 - Kadir Sözen will next month begin the filming of his fifth feature, notably with Narges Rashidi, Benno Fürmann and Anna Thalbach

Turkish-German screenwriter, director and producer Kadir Sözen (photo - Gott ist tot, Winterblume) is preparing for the filming of his fifth feature, Von Glücklichen Schafen, produced by Kölner Filmfabrik.

The film will tell the story of how a small ordinary family is shattered by a dark secret, which in particular ruins the relationship between the mother, Elmas (played by actress of Iranian origin Narges Rashidi), and her adolescent son Can (Jascha Baum) and forces them to forgive each other, and themselves.

Elmas is raising her two children alone by working long hours. When Can discovers that she in fact feeds her family by prostituting herself, distraught and furious, he goes to live with his grandfather with his younger sister, leaving Elmas completely alone, forcing her to rethink her life to regain the trust of her son and be reunited with her children. As the family finally seems on the path to a normal life again, Can sets fire to the brothel where his mother used to work, because of a terrible misunderstanding. Stuck between the horrible ultimatum imposed by her old “manager” (to start selling her body again to pay for the damages or risk exposing her son to the police) and the serious accident that takes place, Elmas’ family still has difficult challenges ahead before they can be truly reunited.

The film’s cast also includes Benno Fürmann, Vedat Erincin (Almanya - Welcome to Germany [+see also:
trailer
interview: Yasemin Samderely
film profile]), Paul Faßnacht, Erhan Emre (Les Enragés) and Anna Thalbach.

Von Glücklichen Schafen is backed by the German Ministry of Culture, the National Fund DFFF and the regional NRW fund (North Rhine Westphalia), since the entirety of the project will be filmed in the region. The team will begin work in November between Cologne, Leverkusen and Wesseling. 

(Translated from French)