New Film Explores Three Generations Seeking Reconciliation

A new film premiering at the International Film Festival Rotterdam shows how one family's search for truth can bridge decades of secrets and silence. "Earth Song" follows a Kurdish-Finnish doctor who discovers her past isn't what she believed, setting her on a journey that could heal three generations.

Rojîn is a 40-year-old anesthesiologist living in Finland, devoted to humanitarian work but struggling to connect with her 12-year-old daughter Azad. Her marriage is strained, and she's wrestling with how to tell Azad she's adopted.

Everything shifts when Rojîn's father visits from Sweden and reveals a secret he's kept since Turkey's 1980 military coup. The revelation sends Rojîn to Kurdistan, determined to understand her origins and reconnect with her daughter through honesty.

Director Erol Mintaş, whose first film won the Sarajevo Film Festival in 2014, wanted to create something universal. "The film addresses Finland and Europe, offering them tools that might help them understand what has shaped these people, who are now also part of the society in these places," he shares.

The film stars Dilan Gwyn as Rojîn, with Zenan Tünc as her daughter and Ali Seçkiner Alıcı as her father. The title draws inspiration from Langston Hughes' poem about renewal, suggesting hope even after difficult revelations.

Why This Inspires

Producer Mete Sasioglu believes the story reaches beyond its specific cultural context. "The film emphasizes the importance of telling the truth, even when it is very difficult, and the responsibilities we have toward one another," he explains.

Mintaş kept his focus on the human experience rather than politics. "I always tried to stay with the characters, their journeys, their needs, and the things they are trying to understand about themselves," the director notes.

The family portrayed offers something powerful: a reminder that reconciliation starts with honesty, no matter how painful. Their story shows that understanding our past, even the difficult parts, can help us build stronger connections with the people we love.

"Earth Song" premieres January 30 at IFFR, inviting audiences worldwide to witness how truth can become the foundation for healing.