“CLAIR OBSCUR is the psychological dance of two women who are deprived of and distanced from their natural right to mature and discover themselves, to love and be loved, and to sustain a real relationship of their choosing. The social cost of these psychological wounds reverberates from micro to macro levels throughout society, rotting it from within. I can clearly perceive that the successful future and health of a developing society lies in breaking the cycle of destructive cultural practices as they are passed on from one generation to the next, especially those that threaten and deny the freedom of women and their sexual identity (…)” (Yeşim Ustaoğlu, director)

“The story should have special appeal for female viewers who will sense the honesty of the protags as they reveal their deepest, most intimate feelings about their relationships and sex lives. That these matters are discussed so openly and frankly in a Turkish context, and include explicit sex scenes, seems surprisingly radical in itself.” (Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter)

After making several award-winning shorts in Turkey, Yeşim Ustaoğlu made her feature film debut with 1994’s THE TRACE. The film was presented at numerous international festivals, including Moscow and Gotenburg. 

Yeşim Ustaoğlu received international recognition for her films JOURNEY TO THE SUN (1999) and ARAF (2012) that screened at numerous festivals and won several prizes such as the Berlinale’s Blue AngeI Award for Best European Film and Best Film Award in Abu Dhabi Film Festival.