Mustafa lives in the village of his ancestors where he started a new family. He’s come to terms with his Swiss past even though he left behind a – now adult – son when he was forced to leave the country. Vedat and Duran live in metropolitan Istanbul, and both work as call agents for German-speaking companies. They struggle to cope with the local culture and still cling to their Swiss identity.

Arada means (in)between in Turkish. In its examination of a highly relevant, controversial subject – the deportation of second-generation immigrants convicted of criminal offenses – the film touches on fundamental questions about the concepts of nationality and cultural identity in a time of resurgent nationalism. «Arada» explores a hidden milieu and tells moving stories about individual human fates behind the political and legal disputes over deportation policy.

Production: soap factory GmbH, Basel
Co-production: ZHdK, Zurich
Writer, director:Jonas Schaffter

Original version in Swiss German and Turkish with English, German or French subtitles, 83 min.

With Vedat Bicer, Duran Deniz, Mustafa Afşar and many more

World sales: soap factory GmbH
Distribution Switzerland: cineworx GmbH

Festivals:
Solothurn Film Festival, Competition Prix de Soleure, January 2020, Switzerland
36th DOK.fest Munich, Competition DOK.deutsch, May 2021, Germany
14th Documentarist Istanbul, Panorama, July 2021, Turkey
18th PROVINZIALE – Filmfest Eberswalde, Competition, October 2021, Germany