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Zaharoff – The Mystery Man of Europe
 Under the theme "Of Countries and the World," the Ottoman Bank Museum is showing the Greek documentary Zaharoff – The Mystery Man of Europe on Thursday, November 9, at 7:00 p.m. Directed by Angelos Abazoglou, the film investigates the birth of international traffic in armaments through the extraordinary life of Sir Basil Zaharoff. Following the screening, Prof. Edhem Eldem conducts a discussion on the documentary.
Abazoglou's film explores the mystery of Basil Zaharoff. Was he the greatest arms dealer of all times, a mysterious shadow backing the Allies at the dawning of World War I, or simply a "peddler of death," fomenting warfare, as the worn-out nations at the end of World War I called him? The film retraces the origins of today's arms traffic through the amazing life of the early 20th century's most enigmatic arms dealer, Sir Basil Zaharoff.
The Museum's film program is prepared in collaboration with the Documentary Filmmakers Association (BSB) and offers a film, complemented by a discussion, on a different theme every week. Screenings are held free of charge. Please call (0212) 334 22 70 to make reservations.
Zaharoff – The Mystery Man of Europe
Director: Angelos Abazoglou, Greece, 2005 Running time: 52 mins.
Discussion: Prof. Edhem Eldem "Concerning the Zaharoff Documentary"
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Prof. Edhem Eldem
Since 1989, Eldem has been on the faculty of the History Department at Boğaziçi University. In 1989, he started the classification of the Ottoman Bank archives, a catalog of which he published in 1994. In 1997, he held an active part in the creation and organization of the Ottoman Bank Archive and Research Center. Eldem has curated and prepared the accompanying catalogs to the following exhibitions held in the Ottoman Bank Museum: Glimpses from the Past- An Exhibition of the Ottoman Bank Archives (1997); History through Money: Paper Money from Ottoman Times to Today (1998); Banks Street: Voyvoda Street from Ottoman Times to Today (2000); Pride and Privilege: A History of Ottoman Orders, Medals and Decorations (2004); and Death in Istanbul: Death and its Rituals in Ottoman-Islamic Culture (2005). He is currently responsible for the development of Museum exhibition scripts and concepts.
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Documentary Filmmakers Association (BSB) started out as a civil platform and began its structuring process following the National Conference held in March 1997. Today it continues its activities as an association with professional status, certified by the Ministry of Culture. Starting with Istanbul, Ankara, Eskisehir and Izmir, BSB is in contact with documentary filmmakers throughout Turkey. Convinced that civil culture is crucial in designing better social futures and filling the blanks of collective social memory, the Documentary Filmmakers Association considers these functions complementary to the creative aspect of documentary filmmaking. BSB creates and promotes screening spaces other than television, organizes and participates in film festivals all over Turkey and offers film screenings with discussions, especially in universities. |
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