Particle (Zerre)

Zerre (released internationally as Particle) is a 2012 Turkish drama written and directed by Erdem Tepegöz, marking his first feature film. Running 80 minutes, it stars Jale Arıkan alongside Rüçhan Çalışkur and Özay Fecht.

The story follows Zeynep, a woman trying to support her young daughter and mother in a big city. Battling unemployment and mounting debts, she takes on whatever work she can find, from dishwashing to garment work, a search that eventually leads her to a textile workshop in Tekirdağ, where cutthroat rivalries define the workplace.

After premiering at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival in October 2012, Zerre reached Turkish cinemas in 2013. At the 35th Moscow International Film Festival it won the Golden George for Best Film, while Jale Arıkan received the Silver George for Best Actress; the film also picked up further honors at the Malatya International Apricot Film Festival.