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THE LOCAL INTERVIEWS - SIBEL KEKILLI

FILM

Game of Thrones star on violence against women

German-Turkish actress Sibel Kekilli has reached international stardom through her role as the beautiful Shae in the fantasy TV drama Game of Thrones. She talks to The Local about her character and violence against women.

Game of Thrones star on violence against women
Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) and Shae (Sibel Kekilli) in Game of Thrones. Photo: Sky

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Kekilli, who has a regular role in the popular German crime show Tatort, never planned to become an actress. It was her discovery at a shopping mall in Cologne by a casting director, that ultimately won her the lead role in Fatih Akin's 2004 film Gegen die Wand (Head-On in English).

The film went on to win awards and was a huge international success, changing Kekilli's life forever. “After that film, my acting career began. Nothing was ever the same again," she says.

Her character Shae in Game of Thrones is no stranger to having her life turned around by a single event either.

Working as a prostitute, her luck changes when she meets one of the series' main characters Tyrion Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage) from the powerful and noble House of Lannister, the night before he goes to battle. She is secretly whisked away by Tyrion with a promise of a better life and riches in far off lands.

“Shae runs away with Tyrion because they fell in love with each other," Kekilli said. "She started to believe she would have a family with a man who loves her exactly the way she is.”

Initially portrayed as an opportunist, Sibel does not believe her character is using Tyrion for his resources. “She is not interested in power or money. Yes, at the beginning she was but not anymore. Shae would die for Tyrion,” she says.

The 33-year-old says she is proud of the way women are portrayed in the show. She told The Local that Game of Thrones is one of the first shows where women are equal to men.

“They are manipulative, dangerous, fighters and intelligent. George R. R. Martin, Dan and David are wonderful writers and you can feel that they love their female characters. Shae is one of these strong women," she says.

There has been controversy about the portrayal of violence and sexual conduct towards women in Game of Thrones, but Kekilli dismisses the criticism. “The violence in the show is not only towards women, but in many scenes also towards children and of course men. It is an important part of the show. Every turn of the story seems to be consequent and somehow reasonable.”

Growing up in Baden-Württemberg in a Turkish Muslim family, Kekilli was faced with two completely different cultures, which she describes as “a German open-minded culture on one side and a traditional Turkish culture on the other".

As an active member of the organization Terre des Femmes (a non-profit women's rights organization founded in 1981 in Hamburg) the actress has publicly voiced her opinions on violence in Muslim families against women.

She told The Local, “I know that violence is part of the Muslim culture. Most of the violence is against women. It’s a shame that some people are using it as an excuse to beat or even kill out of religious purposes. Every religion can be peaceful if you really understand it.”, she told The Local.

After the astounding success of Game of Thrones, many actresses would be heading for the Hollywood Hills, but Kekilli says her plans are closer to home. “Games of Thrones has given me a very special start in Hollywood. There are indeed some movies in the pipeline, but they are here in Germany – although I would love to work in an English-speaking TV series or a movie. Let’s see…”

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FILM

French films with English subtitles to watch in November

As days get shorter and temperatures drop, November is a great month to enjoy a warm and comforting moment at the cinema. Here’s a round up of the French movies with English subtitles to see in Paris this month.

Cinema in France
Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

The cinema group Lost in Frenchlation runs regular screenings of French films in the capital, with English subtitles to help non-native speakers follow the action. The club kicks off every screening with drinks at the cinema’s bar one hour before the movie, so it’s also a fun way to meet people if you’re new to Paris.

These are the events they have coming up in November.

Friday, November 5th

Boîte Noire – What happened on board the Dubai-Paris flight before it crashed in the Alps? In this thriller Matthieu, a young and talented black box analyst played by Pierre Niney (star of Yves Saint-Laurent among other movies) is determined to solve the reason behind this deadly crash, no matter the costs. 

The screening will take place at the Club de l’étoile cinema at 8pm. But you can arrive early for drinks at the bar from 7pm. 

Tickets are €10 full price, €8 for students and all other concessions, and can be reserved here.

Sunday, November 14th

Tralala – In the mood for music? This new delightful French musical brings you into the life of Tralala (played by Mathieu Amalric), a 48 years old, homeless and worn-out street singer, who one day gets mistaken for someone else. Tralala sees an opportunity to get a better life by taking on a new personality. He now has a brother, nephews, ex-girlfriends, and maybe even a daughter. But where is the lie? Where is the truth? And who is he, deep down?

The night will start with drinks from 6pm followed by the screening at 7pm at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema. There is also a two-hour cinema-themed walk where you’ll be taken on a “musicals movie tour” in the heart of Paris, which begins at 4pm.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here. Tickets for the walking tour cost €20 and must be reserved online here.

Thursday, November 18th

Illusions Perdues – Based on the great novel series by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, this historical drama captures the writer Lucien’s life and dilemmas who dreams about a great career of writing and moves to the city to get a job at a newspaper. As a young poet entering the field of journalism, he is constantly challenged by his desire to write dramatic and eye-catching stories for the press. But are they all true?

The evening will kick off with drinks at L’Entrepôt cinema bar at 7pm, followed by the movie screening at 8pm. Tickets are available online here, and cost €8.50 full price; €7 for students and all other concessions.

Sunday, November 21st

Eiffel – Having just finished working on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel (played by Romain Duris) is tasked with creating a spectacular monument for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. It’s ultimately his love story with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey) that will inspire him to come up with the idea for the Eiffel Tower.

After a first screening last month, Lost in Frenchlation is organising a new one at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema, with pre-screening drinks at the cinema bar. 

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here

Thursday, November 25th

Les Héroïques – Michel is a former junkie and overgrown child who only dreams of motorbikes and of hanging out with his 17-year-old son Léo and his friends. But at 50 years old, he now has to handle the baby he just had with his ex, and try not to make the same mistakes he has done in the past. 

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Maxime Roy who will discuss his very first feature. 

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Full details of Lost in Frenchlation’s events can be found on their website or Facebook page. In France, a health pass is required in order to go to the cinema.

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