Let There Be Love [Aşk Olsun]

The documentary “Let There Be Love” depicts the Alevi community, which accounts for roughly 20 percent of the Turkish population, along with its philosophy that builds its mysticism on the humans. The Alevi keep up their existence mainly in countries like Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq and Syria as well as in Northern Africa in smaller communities and in the European countries to where they have immigrated.

The documentary explores the Alevi belief that has been conveyed from generation to generation for centuries through the traditional verbal literature and the nefes ( traditional folk poetry in musical form) breath. It shows the Cem (Assembly) ritual, which is the main form of worship of the Alevi, the “Muhabbet” (Conversation) conducted in accompany of reciting of poetry and traditional folk sayings as well as conversations with the academicians and the Alevi leaders. The movie focuses on certain distinguishing characteristics of the Alevi belief, such as the idea of equality of men and women which originates from the idea of unity of the universe, and tolerance toward other religions and beliefs. Along with the basic Alevi rituals, the political organizations of the Alevi community are another chapter of the movie. The movie presents the Alevi rituals with a movie technique where interviews come in now and then throughout, without narrator in appearance and external voice in the background.