Film Lens
Turkish Passport is a 2011 film directed by Burak Arliel that tells the story of Turkish diplomats who purportedly rescued Jews during the Holocaust. The narrative focuses on diplomats stationed in various European countries, claiming they saved many Jews by providing them with Turkish passports and facilitating their return to Turkey. The film presents a positive portrayal of these diplomats, suggesting they not only saved Turkish Jews but also foreign Jews during World War II.
Despite its uplifting narrative, the film has faced criticism for its historical accuracy. Historians like Marc David Baer and Uğur Ümit Üngör have labeled it as propaganda, arguing that it presents unsubstantiated accounts of rescue and ignores the deportation of Turkish Jews to death camps. The film's claims are largely based on the testimonies of alleged rescuers, and it fails to mention the darker aspects of Turkey's wartime policies regarding its Jewish population.
Why Watch
- •See how Turkish diplomats are portrayed as rescuers.
- •Find out about the film's controversial historical claims.
- •Meet the Turkish Jews who helped produce the film.
Did You Know
•The film was first shown at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2011.
•Only one Turkish diplomat, Selahattin Ülkümen, is recognized as Righteous Among the Nations.
•15,000 Jews fled the region due to the 1934 Thrace pogroms, which the film does not mention.
•The film won 'Best Feature Documentary Award' at the 2011 Moondance International Film Festival.
Perfect For
Holocaust historyTurkish cinemaDocumentary critiques