The Magical Call of 'Oryantal' (2007)

The oriental belly dance is a form of art which tells the story of birth. This dance is not only a demonstration of the happiness felt at the emergence of a new life, but also works as a beneficial therapy on woman's psychology. And now, one Turkish woman filmmaker wants to share her witnessing to this magic with the world. Filmmaker Umut lives in Istanbul and has been aware of the oriental belly dancing since her childhood because this dance is part of her culture. But what she did not know was the deep philosophy behind it. Once she starts to learn about it, she discovers that it's more than a touristic attraction. She interviews with oriental belly dancers, professors and psychiatrists regarding oriental belly dance. Through her research on this dance's history and cultural effects she finds out that some belly dancing teaching classes turn out to be therapy centers for the women who has problems such as depression, eating disorders, rape and sexual abuse. This emotional recovery is method of maintaining well and can help to get over the issues of having a woman's body. So she puts up a test class together to document the psychological effects of the dance. Three women, including herself, begin to take belly dancing lessons through their depressed periods. Umut wants to share her discovery and great experience on this magical form of art with this film.