The film captures the complexities of modern day Turkey, geographically and culturally. Geographically, it straddles Europe and the Middle East; culturally, it is caught between Western cosmopolitanism and traditional Muslim values. Despite the legacy of modernization left by Attaturk, Turkey's charismatic leader after the First World War, the prospect of Turkish membership in the European Union has polarized its members.

Since the time of the crusades, Europe has regarded Turkey with wary suspicion. Journalist Tuncay Akgun complains, "We are seen as 'the other, the stranger.' That's a deep part of the European collective conscience." Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a member of the European Parliament, argues that Turkey's European Union membership would combat terrorism by proving: "the clash of cultures between the Muslim world and Western societies can be overcome."

Turkey has already implemented a number of reforms to meet European Union requirements. There are now government-run shelters for women escaping abuse, laws excusing honor killings have been overturned, prisons modernized and the Kurds granted more rights. But even before these changes, Istanbul was a bustling modern metropolis with a sophisticated, liberal middle class. But the generals still have a tight grip on the country, which the European Union finds objectionable.

A closed captioned version is available. Please specify when ordering.