Elaha
A psychological journey of emancipation that reveals that only by facing reality can we be true to ourselves.
Elaha is a young Kurdish-German woman torn between the unconditional love for her family and her own aspirations in life. Although she cares most about having a good time with her girlfriends and taking care of her younger brother, she has to fight patriarchy while being the perfect daughter. Ultimately, she has to make a decision: To tell the truth or live a life in grand delusion.
Performed with great commitment, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg graduate Milena Aboyan’s film revolves around a topic that is as personal as it is universal: sexual self-determination. Based on a nuanced screenplay, Aboyan illuminates all facets and stays very close to her complex and completely authentic protagonist.
The screening includes subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing audiences. The screening is also accessible to audiences with visual impairment to whom we recommend purchasing tickets to the front rows. Please find the film’s audio description on MovieReading app.
The screening includes subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing audiences. The screening is also accessible to audiences with visual impairment to whom we recommend purchasing tickets to the front rows. Please find the film’s audio description on MovieReading app.
Milena Aboyan (1992) is an Armenian-born writer and director who lives and works in Hamburg. In 2010, she began a four-year acting training program in Germany and was involved in several theatre productions. After receiving her acting degree, she changed disciplines and began to focus on writing. She started working as an assistant dramaturge on an early-evening series on a German television channel. In 2015, she began studying screenwriting at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. In 2019 she won the Emden Screenplay Award. She has received numerous awards for her work, which deals with socio-political and social issues.
Elaha (2023)