Feel-good German film says multiculturalism not dead

BERLIN, Feb 13 — “Almanya”, a rare feel-good film about Turkish immigrants in Germany that premiered at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday, defies recent political declarations that multiculturalism has failed in Europe.

Coming amid an anguished public debate about the place of foreigners in Germany, the debut film by two Turkish-German sisters delighted filmgoers with its comic and optimistic depiction of immigrants’ efforts to integrate in an alien society.

“After so many dark films we wanted to show a perspective that we felt a lot closer to, that was not so extreme and negative,” said Nesrin Samdereli, who wrote the screenplay, at a news conference in Berlin.

“Encounters between Germans and Turks are often quite comic, and that is what we wanted to portray.”

Turkish-German films such as Fatih Akin’s “Head On” — the first German film in 18 years to win the top prize at the Berlin festival — have won much critical acclaim in recent years, yet have mostly focused on social troubles in immigrant communities.

“Almanya” humorously narrates the story of a family of Turkish origin that moved to Germany to find better-paid work in the 1960s and now bridges two cultures.

Turning the classic perspective of immigrants as the Other on its head, “Almanya” shows how shocked the family is to arrive in a country populated by blond giants who devour pigs, worship a suffering figure on a cross and speak “gibberish”.

Director Yasemin Samdereli says she created a fantasy language as a stylistic means “to give German viewers the same feeling of oddness and confusion caused by a new language”.

Multiculturalism not dead?

Chancellor Angela Merkel last year declared that multiculturalism had failed in Germany and newcomers needed to better integrate, a sentiment French and British leaders Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron echoed this month.

“Almanya”, which will be released in Germany in both Turkish and German, pokes fun at the need to assimilate. In one scene, when a “Gastarbeiter” (guest worker) seeks to obtain German nationality, a bureaucrat insists he commits to devouring pork, holidaying in Majorca and sporting a Hitler-esque moustache.

But the film also shows the great efforts made by immigrants to integrate, while retaining their own culture.

“We had noticed over many years that the issue of Turks in Germany is often cast in a negative light . . . and it was quite tiring,” said Yasemin Samdereli. “My own family tried very hard to face up to the new challenges (when they arrived in Germany), but this was never portrayed.”

The Samdereli sisters said they incorporated many autobiographical experiences into the film, such as forcing their mother to stage Christmas for them.

The film ends on an optimistic note, with Merkel holding a ceremony for the Turkish guest workers to acknowledge their contribution to the German economic miracle. A third-generation Turkish-German boy holds a speech in perfect German.

“It shows multiculturalism hasn’t failed (and) is perhaps still emerging,” said actor Vedat Erincin, who plays the elderly guest worker. “We feel like neo-Europeans, we live here, this is where our children are growing up and it is going to get much, much better.”

The 61st Berlin film festival runs to next Sunday, culminating in the awards ceremony taking place on Saturday. “Almanya” is screening in the main film line-up but is not in the running for awards. — Reuters

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Malaysia proposes Muslim nations severe ties with Israel

KOTA TINGGI, (Bernama) -- Malaysia, as the chair of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has proposed that Islamic countries having diplomatic relations with Israel sever the ties and recall their envoys in response to the Jewish state's atrocities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said today the proposal was put forward at an extraordinary meeting of OIC foreign ministers on Israeli aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem that was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, two days ago.

"We suggested that Islamic countries having diplomatic relations with Israel sever the ties or recall their ambassadors temporarily to show that we are serious and do not engage in mere empty talk," he said after giving out aid donated by Bank Rakyat for flood victims.

Syed Hamid said that the proposal, though difficult to implement, was agreed to in principle by the OIC countries and that OIC Secretary-General Prof Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu was following up on the matter.

He said Islamic countries should have an action plan that could be translated to the international community to resolve the problem of Palestine and which did not depend on words alone.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia also proposed at the meeting that Israel be referred to the Human Rights Commission over its atrocities against the people of Palestine and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is Islam's third holiest place after Mekah and Madinah.

Malaysia also suggested that the OIC obtain the advice of experts of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israeli action in Palestine for a resolution from the court based in The Hague, the Netherlands, he said.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia had also suggested that the Palestine issue should also be brought to the United Nations' Security Council and its members be asked to come up with action against Israel.

"What is happening now is that various resolutions are put forward (to the UN Security Council) but there is no action against Israel," he said, adding that the world would be saddled with the problem so long as the Jewish regime ignores international opinion on Palestine.

Malaysia, he said, would continue to raise the issue of Israeli occupation of Palestine though there may be quarters which are uneasy over Kuala Lumpur's bold stand.

The foreign minister called on the world to respect the Palestinian unity government established after leaders of the Fatah and Hamas factions reached agreement at talks held in Mekah recently.

"Hamas' victory in democratic elections is not accepted. The unity achieved by Hamas and Fatah is not accepted. In the end, where do we place them?" he asked when commenting on the reluctance of the United States and European countries to recognise the new Palestinian government led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

On his visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, tomorrow, Syed Hamid said he would attend a meeting of foreign ministers of seven Islamic countries on the latest developments in Palestine.

The seven countries -- Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey -- would attempt to draw up a new Palestine-Israel peace plan to be forwarded to the United States, the European Union and Israel, he said.
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Malaysia wins AFF-Suzuki Cup on 4-2 aggregate; PM declares Friday a public holiday

By ERIC SAMUEL

JAKARTA: Malaysia has won the AFF-Suzuki Cup on a 4-2 aggregate. Indonesia won the second leg of the final 2-1 in Jakarta on Wednesday night while Malaysia had won the first leg 3-0 in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
The scorers for Indonesia were Mohammad Ridwan (87th minute) and Mohammad Nasuha (71st). Safee Sali had scored in the 53rd minute to put Malaysia 1-0 in the lead.
It was a significant success for Malaysia as the last time the senior national team became champions in a regional competition was at the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian football fans celebrate our team's victory during the live telecast at Dataran Merdeka.

It was also the first time in the AFF Championships since 1996 that Malaysia has become champions.
To make it a grand night for Malaysia, Safee won the Golden Boot award with five goals to his name. The striker was on target twice in the first leg.
Later Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared Friday, Dec 31, a public holiday in recognition of our team's AFF-Suzuki Cup triumph.
Malaysia started with the same line-up that was fielded in the first leg, except for midfielder Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal and right-back Mahali Jasuli, who were suspended. The duo were replaced by Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin and Mohd Sabree Abu respectively.

Malaysian football fans celebrate at a restaurant in Petaling Jaya after Safee Sali scored the opening goal in the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final.- AZMAN GHANI / The Star

The Indonesians were without their inspirational flanker Okto Maniani, who was also out on suspension while striker Yongky Ari Bowo was out with an injury. Their replacements were Arif Suyono and Irfan Bachdim respectively.
As expected, Indonesia came charging from the starting whistle but the Malaysian defence led by Mohd Muslim Ahmad and Mohd Fadhli Shas did well to keep a tight leash on Indonesian dangermen Christian Gonzales and Irfan Bachdim.
But a lapse of concentration inside the box resulted in Indonesia winning a penalty in the 15th minute, when Mohd Sabree handled the ball.

Malaysia's S. Kunalan challenges Indonesia's Mohammad Nasuha for the ball during the AFF Suzuki Cup final, second leg match at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, December 29, 2010. GLENN GUAN/The Star

However, much to the disappointment of the Indonesian fans, skipper Firman Utina’s tame kick was saved by Malaysian goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.
The Indonesians, who were desperate for an early goal, kept on pressing for the opening goal but Khairul Fahmi proved to be a stumbling block, denying at least five attempts at goal before the half-time break.
Malaysia took the lead against the run of play in the 53rd minute, when Ashaari sent a long through ball for Safee to chase, and the Selangor hitman scored a clinical goal.

Police trucks enter the Gelora Bung Karno stadium before the start of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 final, second leg match in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday.-GLENN GUAN/The Star

Despite being a goal down, Indonesia never gave up and their persistence paid off as defender Mohammad Nasuha pounced on a loose ball from goalkeeper Khairul’s save to hit the roof of the net in the 71st minute.
Then with the clock ticking away, Muhammad Ridwan scored from a goal-mouth melee in the 87th minute but this was not enough to deny Malaysia the AFF-Suzuki Cup.
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