The film Rêga ("The Road"), created by Yılmaz Güney, is not just a movie - it's a testimony to oppression, struggle and Kurdish reality. But from the first moment, it was met by censorship and manipulation
When the 1993 film was eventually allowed to be shown in Turkey, it was no longer the same movie that Güney had intended. All Kurdish dialogues, the name Kurdistan and several central scenes were cut off. The audio was replayed and the new version distorted the message that Güney wanted to convey. Despite that, the film was still banned from showing in Turkish cinemas until 1999 - the power was so afraid of its truths.
After Günay's death, a long legal battle followed over who really owned the movie. His wife, his production company and later various producers made the claims. New versions were cut together, digitized and presented as "the complete path". However, many of Güney's close friends believed that these procedures were in direct opposite to his artistic will.
In 2017, a "full version" was launched at the Cannes Festival. In 2022, another version was called "the official" or "director's cut". The question still remains: who is the real Rega? Is it the 1982 censored version, the 2017 Cannes version or the 2022 restored edition?
- The only thing that’s certain is this: The state could censor, edit and falsify - but they could never take away the film’s spirit. Rêga is and remains Yılmaz Güney's cry from prison, a work that exposes a system built on oppression, nationalism and violence
- Rêga (1982) - the censored original edition.
Rêga: Full Version (2017, Cannes).
Rêga: Director’s cut (2022).
Rêga is not just a movie. It's part of Kurdish History
