Flag Mountain

Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, is divided into Greek and Turkish zones. From the Greek zone of the city, the camera looks out over the rooftops to a range of mountains in the distance. We see a Greek Orthodox church - further off, in the background, a mosque with two minarets. manages to capture the nationalist struggle between two countries in just a few sounds and a single camera position, and even with humor. By speeding up the film, the Turks' visual show of strength is transformed into a music hall routine that provides a tragicomic contrast to the everyday reality of the city's inhabitants, Greeks and Turks alike. In the foreground, a bricklayer carries on doggedly with his work. It remains unclear whether the inhabitants share this sense of absurdity. Perhaps only we, the viewers, are aware of it. But the meaning of the film stretches beyond the Cypriot question. It shows how simple images and sounds can keep a struggle going in peace time. These are the weapons that each side is constantly using to intimidate the other. gives us some insight into the language of a silent, yet aggressive, war.