Synopsis
A little gem enjoyed by all of the CFS Viewing Panel, DJ Ahmet tells the story of 15-year old Ahmet growing up in a remote village in North Macedonia. Its warm sense of character and the cultural context combine in a disarming coming-of-age feature in which the power of music helps to overcome traditional barriers. DJ Ahmet took the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance 2025.
Ahmet lives with his gruff widowed father and younger brother, Naim, who has been mute since their mother’s death. As much as Ahmet would like to follow his passion to make music, his father, whose whole focus is on making a livelihood from his flock of sheep, has more traditional expectations for him. Ahmet finds refuge in Electronic Dance Music and his DJ decks. Music is also an escape for Aya, a local girl who has returned to the village from Germany for an arranged marriage to an older man against her will. Both Ahmet and Aya yearn for excitement, and their shared love of music brings them closer together as they fight to assert their own identities and forge new paths.
Director, Georgi M. Unkovski, approaches the clash between Ahmet’s youthful rebellion against the rustic world of his father and the realities of life in their isolated community with a non-judgmental warmth, sensitively exploring the realities of life in their isolated community. Arif Jakup is immediately likeable as Ahmet and gives a soulful performance in the lead role, especially in scenes with his innocent and adorable brother, Naim. Boosted by a rich soundtrack of regional as well as western music and a few running gags that work well, the talented young cast and Unkovski’s inventive storytelling coalesce beautifully in this charming and engaging film.
Language: Turkish, Macedonian with subtitles
Additional Info
Why Watch?
“An unforgettable ensemble, laugh-out-loud comedy and heartsore drama make writer director Georgi M. Unkovski’s story of a teenage boy defying his traditional community feel like a revelation.” (Variety)
“DJ Ahmet is a hugely lively, energetically-scored romp that will connect with anyone who has ever been young and misunderstood.” (Irish Times)
Location
Cheltenham Film Society, Bacon Theatre, Hatherley Rd, Cheltenham, GL51 6EP
