Are we Turkish or are we German?: Exploring the identity crisis of Turkish Gastarbeiters in Turkish-German Film

This thesis expands on the current political climate in Europe and the issue of immigration, by exploring the past experiences of immigrants in Germany through the lens of German - Turkish film. Through the labour recruitment program in the post - war period, Germany saw an influx of workers, especially those from Turkey, and the issue of immigration was brought in to the forefront of political and social debate. The Turkish guest workers faced many problems in regards to their integration, based on Germany's lack of openness to immigration, the workers' attachment to their home country, and the difference of cultures. Facing discrimination in various areas, the Turkish guest workers began to document their migration experiences through literature, creating a new Turkish - German genre. This thesis discusses how two examples of Turkish - German films - Almanya: Willkommen in Deutschland and Einmal Hans mit scharfer Soße - reflect Homi K Bhabha's postcolonial concept of cultural hybridity. Through the clashes of the Turkish and German cultures, a third space has opened up and due to the intercultural interaction, a new hybrid culture has been created.