Oya, traditional Anatolian needle-lace art, is considered to be sculpture with needle and thread, instead of chisel and stone. In this film, an oya collector embarks on a journey to discover the story behind one of his favorite oya. He finds Gülbiye—the only woman in a village farming silkworms for the purpose of producing silk thread—who teaches her granddaughter Ada through tales about silkworm farming and the oya rituals. This story introduces the intricate art form, which was once the product of oppressed women, but later became a source of empowerment and economic independence.
Screening: Thursday, May 14th, 8:40-9:55 PM, The Shedd Recital Hall
Length: 75 min
Country: Turkey
Language: Turkish
Director(s): Sevinç Baloğlu
Producer(s): Adnan Memiş
Distributor: Adnan Memiş