Based partly on the teachings of the preacher and writer Fetullah Gulen, SELAM tells the true story of three Turkish teachers who left their native lands to work in countries they have never heard of before - Afghanistan, Senegal and Bosnia. The film depicts their struggles both in their adopted countries and at home, as they have to overcome the objections expressed by family and close friends (why go abroad when you have so much to do at home?) The term "selam" has several meanings - it is not only a term of greeting, it is a means by which bridges can be established between cultures and peoples, proving the strength of one's faith, while at the same time understanding that there are many people worldwide who embrace the faith with equal fervor. SELAM is a timely film that reflects contemporary anxieties about the future of the world dominated by capitalism and individuality. Is there a means by which people across nations can reconnect with one another and hence work towards achieving a better life for themselves. The film offers an overwhelmingly positive answer - so long as individuals have love in their hearts, act kindly and are prepared to endure sacrifices, both physical as well as spiritual, then there is perhaps hope left in the world. In narrative terms, perhaps SELAM might have benefited from some judicious pruning; there are certain sequences where director Demirkale is too fond of the long, lingering close-up or the slow zoom into the protagonists' faces. On the whole, however, the film leaves you feeling uplifted: human beings are basically good-hearted, so long as they are prepared to listen to their inner voices.
