Muslim filmmaker explores racism and identity in German cinema

Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay’s tense drama explores immigrant representation and societal tensions in modern Germany

BERLIN, Germany (MNTV) — Hysteria, the latest film from German director Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, delves into racism, identity, and the complexities of immigrant representation in German cinema.

The film begins as a tense thriller before shifting into an intense chamber drama, where debates over how immigrant stories are portrayed take center stage, as reported by film news outlet Screen Anarchy.

The story follows Yigit, a filmmaker recreating the 1990s arson attacks on Muslim immigrant communities. For authenticity, he casts refugees as extras, but tensions arise when a Quran is unintentionally burned during filming.

One extra, Majid, walks off set, prompting young intern Elif to drive the remaining extras home and deliver the film negatives to producer Lilith. 

Along the way, discussions emerge about whether cinema highlights immigrant struggles or reinforces victimhood.

The situation takes a darker turn when Elif loses the keys to Lilith’s apartment and receives cryptic messages from an unknown sender. Soon after, the film negatives containing the Quran-burning scene go missing. Yigit, suspecting theft, calls the police on the extras, while Lilith chooses to reshoot the scene without controversy. 

However, Elif and others demand accountability, sparking a heated debate over power, storytelling, and who controls the immigrant narrative.

Hysteria delves into the complexities of identity, representation, and power dynamics within immigrant communities. It raises difficult but necessary questions about who gets to tell these stories and how they are framed—whether as a means of advocacy or as a tool that reinforces stereotypes. 

While it doesn’t provide easy answers, Hysteria forces its audience to confront uncomfortable truths, making it a timely and thought-provoking exploration of contemporary social issues.