The award-winning film Gomsu (Neighbour), which poignantly explores memory and resilience in post-invasion Cyprus, is set to be screened at the Cyprus High Commission in London on December 4. This screening is sponsored by “Cyprus Culture in the UK” and supported by the Deputy Ministry of Culture. The film was previously showcased in Nicosia in July as part of Cyprus Insula, an ongoing exhibition celebrating the island’s cultural heritage from the past to present.
Directed by Sholeh Zahraei and Kamil Saldun, Gomsu narrates the story of a Turkish Cypriot woman, Şenay, who visits her beloved Greek Cypriot neighbor Elena long after the invasion, leaving a flower on Elena’s door when she does not respond. This gesture reflects a Cypriot tradition of leaving flowers to let residents know of a visitor’s presence when they were not home, with certain flowers and arrangements acting as personal signatures.
The film utilizes this tradition as a metaphorical bridge between the post-war psychological challenges and the longing for peace. “After wars, many people never see their neighbors again. In loving memory of women who developed the culture of leaving flowers at their neighbors’ and loved ones’ doors,” a message at the film’s conclusion states.
“The abandoned house depicted in the film symbolizes the trauma and loss experienced by many displaced Greek and Turkish Cypriots over the years,” Saldun elaborates. “In Cyprus’s history, marked by conflict and violence, people were often forced to leave their homes, resulting in a collective and individual sense of loss passed down to future generations.”
Gomsu aims to uncover multiple layers of history, culture, tradition, and collective trauma, while highlighting shared memories, emotions, and hopes for reconciliation. Filmed in Famagusta in the open part of Varosha, at an abandoned house, the movie features Saldun and Şenay Aktug. Arinc Arısoy and Fadi Hijaz managed the cinematography, with Savina Yannatou composing the music.
Zahraei, a screenwriter, producer, and film director based in Germany and Cyprus, has collaborated with Saldun on various film and photography projects since 2011.
The Cyprus Insula exhibition, which opened on July 4, 2024, will continue until June 30, 2025, at the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation in the old town of Nicosia, running daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Utilizing modern and interactive technology, visitors can engage with Cyprus’s recent history through a specially designed immersive experience.