Bruce Stanburysays... I have worked for electronic journalism at NBC for over twenty years and have never seen as truthful and complete piece of
visual coverage of a country as "Paradise Denied".
It deserves a special catagory award. Truly, a complete view
of Cyprus: history, politics, agendas and what these things do to the people who live under them. "Paradise Denied" shows what is going on today, from international perspectives, background and what could explode any moment,from the central view of complex questions on the middle east.
Acessotheronesays... Friends of Cyprus present Carel Rowe's Documentary, "Paradise Denied" as a well balanced view of The Cyprus Problem, from voices of a people living still under oppression and cultural confusion which "won't go away" even today. As Dr. Rowe points out in her artistic documentary, there exist many a powerful cases for change culminating in either unification or partition.
This may be the finest study of current Northern Cyprus available.
Accessotherone says...
Carel Rowe is a brilliant filmaker who documented Northern Cyprus through impartial lens and exposed "forbidden" areas, still held by the Turks. "Paradise Denied" is an American's discovery and exposure of conditions she experienced, found, filmed and revealed in the "TRNC".
There was no political agenda in the film BUT, after five years and a losing battle with EU acceptance, today, Turks and their contacts are "flaming" and denouncing the very truth her work revealed. These emotionally political denouncing letters against the work, are propaganda against one of the boldest documentaries made. Universities and Libraries are aware of its worth.
SummarySince 1974, the island of Cyprus has been divided between the Greek and Turkish governments. For more than thirty years, negotiations have been conducted to find a peaceful reconciliation. But for every declaration of optimism, there is an equally discouraging setback, as both sides find ways to break down the negotiation process.
In Paradise Denied, a radio interview conducted by a Cypriot woman living in New York and her filmmaker guest provides the context for both a history of Cyprus and the island’s current situation. This film is an intimate view of life on this island in the Mediterranean, where citizens on both sides of the border express their frustration, anger, and helplessness. Urging their governments to come to a peaceful and long-lasting resolution, these men and women reveal personal stories of hardship, heartbreak and hope—putting a human face on the political and economic strife that imprisons Cyprus.
