The Devil’s apprentice
A brutally honest and lengthy interview, The Devil’s apprentice is Michael Souphi’s chilling confession. The young Belgium of Turkish decent describes how during his military service in Turkey he was rapidly transformed from a shy young man wanting to be Rambo into an interrogation specialist, willingly engaging in torture. His recruitment into the Turkish secret service puts him on a rapid descend into dehumanization, eventually leading him to desert the army, leave his family and go into hiding in Spain and Africa.
Background
Michael confesses that he was being trained to join the Counter-Guerrilla, a secret paramilitary agency and a subsidiary division of MIT, the Turkish governmental intelligence agency. Nowadays it is involved in operations aimed towards ‘enemies of the state’ and especially Kurds. Documentary filmmaker Huismann comments on the shroud of secrecy under which it operates by describing it as “a state within a state.”
Political interest
As Turkey is momentarily attempting to join the European Union, reports of human rights violations, jeopardising its future candidateship, are undoubtedly sensitive subjects for the government. During his investigation, Huismann is stopped by a patrol, prohibited to continue filming and expelled from the city. After witnesses and victims of the torture practices refuse to speak or even go into hiding, Huismann expresses his increased suspicion of being actively impeded by the government to unravel an apparent cover-up.
Social interest
Despite the significance of the political interests at stake, at the heart of the documentary is a shattering story about the dehumanization of an individual by the state. As Michael comments “there’s a beast in everyone of us, you just have to arouse it.” His dehumanization process began when his mysterious commander Vidat gave him a codename; stripping him of any individualism left. What follows is a thrilling journey of cowardice and guilt, and eventually of courage and the will to live.
About the filmmaker
Wilfried Huismannn was born in Godensholt, Germany, in 1951. He studied social science and history in Germany, and later worked in development aid in Santiago, Chile. Huismann has written books and produced radio features. Since 1987, he has worked with Monitor, a nightly television news program in Germany.
Previous screenings
The Devil’s apprentice premiered at the International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film and was also shown at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, the Chicago International Film Festival and the 2003 Cork Film Festival.