You know that there will be some documentary films with heavy subjects that would spark up those hard conversations. Those films will land themselves on a massive platform like the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto. Especially this year when the festival celebrated its 30th anniversary. But what about films that speak to the human thread of existence and what it means to have a sense of purpose in life? And to get up every morning no matter the cards you have been dealt? The Kurdish population who have been fighting for their identity all across the globe know how intense this battle is day in and day out.
Who better than director Kordo Doski who knows how to work with you got. Born to Kurdish parents and grew up in Toronto, Kordo knows the diversity of culture widely accepted in this city. This is not the case in places where Kurds are situated. Not having official status as a land or a people, Kurdish people are spread in Iran, Syria, Turkey and Iraq. Over time they have fought to maintain their identities within these countries. They answered the bell when it came to fighting ISIS for the West. Unfortunately, that itself failed to unify the people of Kurdistan.
Kurdish Soccer in Sweden
No story is more resonant to the director Kordo Doski than that of his recent documentary Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story. It focuses on the Dalkurd football club situated in Sweden mainly in Borlange and recently moved to Uppsala. The club is comprised of mainly Kurdish players who have immigrated or were born under that heritage in Sweden. The film focuses on the team who have three games left to play to qualify for the Swedish premiere league. Having jumped from Tier 2 to Tier 7, this football club knows that there is so much on the line.
The film shows the exuberant pain that these players go through when they are on the pendulum of losing. Something not celebrated, especially in the world of soccer, winning is everything and there are no two ways about it. Losing can get to you and under the skin which director Kordo Doski shows the reality of. Players have to do other things in their lives such as raising a family to get away from the game.
“It’s more similar to the average person. And that’s what I really relate to. And being in the film industry. And kind of the way I started even in the acting lane. There are so many pararells. I’m inspired by people who can achieve a lot without resources”
Director Kordo Doski\
Winning is Everything
Director Kordo Doski knows what it means for these players to win and the notoriety that comes along with it. In a platform like soccer, the Kurdish can raise their heads high and be proud of their heritage. To be considered a minority for a time has inspired the Kurdish to stand up and fight oppression. Just like Doski himself who works with a limited amount of resources and is seen as an underdog, the Dalkurd football club is the exact same. For both, there is no ceiling for them to achieve but know the discontent when staying on the same level for too long.
Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story has so much heart from a director who has an even bigger one. FERNTV spoke to director Kordo Doski about the journey of making this documentary during Hot Docs 2023.
https://youtu.be/-a8XB4PptYA
Click above for a FERNTV interview wth Kordo Doski of Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story
Fernando Fernandez is a graduate of Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto. He became interested in entertainment journalism in the late 2000s writing for online startups. He founded FERNTV in 2009 and focused mainly on the film industry. With over a thousand interviews conducted with all walks of life in film, he is still learning as if every day is day one.
