Experiencing Interruptions?

Cyclist

In the crime-ridden South African township of Khayelitsha, 18 year old Avuyile reflects on how his passion for bicycles helped him turn away from a path of violence and drugs. Calling it his “rehab”, cycling enables Avuyile to imagine a life beyond Khayelitsha as he enters his first marathon race.

  • Melih Aslan
    Director
  • Cagatay Metin
    Art Director
  • Can Şeren
    Sound Editor
  • Fırat Konuşlu
    Colorist
  • Engela Britz
    Music Director
  • Elif Aslan
    Logistic
  • Sandiswa Tshefu
    Logistic
  • Sandiswa Tshefu
    Translation
  • Yonelisa Wambi
    Translation
  • Thabo Bopape
    Subtitles
  • Seyda Can Yılmaz
    Subtitles
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Turkey
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    English, Xhosa
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Melih Aslan

Melih Aslan is a filmmaker who was born in 1988, based in
Istanbul, Turkey. Aslan started his career as a foreign news
journalist in a national newspaper in Turkey, than covered
numerous incident as a producer for Reuters and NY Times. He
decided to produce documentaries to cover in-depth stories.

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Director Statement

When I decided to move to Cape Town from Turkey, I tried to leave violence at past. Violence which I witnessed closely as a journalist. I tried to emancipate myself from everything and my first act was to buy a secondhand bicycle. That little shiny, blue vehicle became my escape and friend for a long time. However, I only postponed my curiosity, or ignore the fact that 'I have to deal with different kind of a violence'. Then I started to find an entrance point for famous Cape Town Township, Khayelitsha which is described the heart of violence by many others; famous with its' gangs, drugs, murders, rapes... Even as a middle easterner I had no chance to find an access with my skin color than I realized my raceless blue friend could help me to reach Khayelitsha which means 'Our New Home' in Xhosa. I have no connection with that violence or the bloody past of South African racial issue, but I know how bicycle helps to create another version of reality or find alternative ways to bend our path. That's how I reach Avuyile, on the road while we try to expand our world and protecting each other from head wind. So, this is the story of our new home which we may build on a saddle.