GROOM'S BLOCK / DAMAT KOĞUŞU

Groom's Block is slang in Turkey for prison sections holding those accused of serious sex crimes, where men judge each other and lash out justice daily.

In the Groom's Block, the guards and prison governor manipulate tensions, as prisoners push each other to the edge of existence. The film's story and characters are drawn from everyday life. We experience the tension and paradox of a violent prison and justice system reflecting the shifting moral norms and structure of Turkish society.

“The question I wanted to ask in the film is why the justice system puts those inmates in such a position that they are the ones creating rules inside with violence an everyday part of their existence. On the other side, the people outside; are the first to judge, then ignore and forget what is going on.

Prisons are micro societies. It's an example of a country, city or little town. In Turkey we are living in a society dominated by men with very strict unwritten social laws; with every year increasing violence against women and homophobia. My main intention in making this film was to explore these issues and questions whether the society outside of prison is any different that that inside prison. I wanted to put everybody in the centre as in real life and then we follow the power games between attackers and victims, innocent and guilty, authority and its subjects.“

İlker Savaşkurt