With a premiere at the Rio Cinema, the animated film “Freedom Shall Prevail: The Struggle of Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish People” was presented to an audience for the first time in London. The production is based on a graphic novel of the same name and tells the story of Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish movement in animated form. The film was produced under the Kurdish People’s Council, directed by Ilham Bakır. The original work comes from author Sean Michael Wilson, and the music was composed by Mehdi Ahmadpourian. After a long production period, the film was publicly screened for the first time on April 4, Öcalan’s birthday, and attracted great interest.
Narrative approach through personal perspective
The story begins in London: a young woman starts researching Kurds and Abdullah Öcalan for a university publication. Through conversations with a Kurdish acquaintance, she gradually uncovers his life story. The film combines this personal perspective with a broader depiction of the historical and social development of Kurdistan. Öcalan’s biography is not told in isolation but is embedded in a larger political context. Formally, the production relies heavily on voice-over narration, linking the different stages of his life with ideological and historical developments. At its core is the question of how political ideas emerge and translate into collective movements.
Director highlights historical continuities
Following the screening, director Ilham Bakır placed the film in a political context. He referred to the history of revolutionary movements worldwide, which have often weakened after the loss of their leading figures. Kurdish history, too, has seen many ruptures, for example through the killing of political leaders, he said. In this context, Bakır mentioned figures such as Şêx Seîdê Pîran, Seyîd Riza, and Qazî Mihemed. As counterexamples, he highlighted individuals who remained politically influential despite long-term imprisonment, including Nelson Mandela and Abdullah Öcalan. Öcalan’s continued influence despite decades of isolation is a central reference point of the film.
Film as a counter-narrative
Bakır also emphasized that the film should be understood as a response to attempts to politically marginalize Öcalan’s role. The aim of the production is to make his ideas and their social impact accessible again. Particular reference is made to developments such as the social structures in Rojava, which are seen as examples of the implementation of his concepts. The film therefore presents itself not only as a biographical account but also as a political contribution to current debates. After the premiere, a discussion with the audience took place, where viewers took the opportunity to ask questions and further explore the themes addressed in the film.
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