‘Framed Patterns of Infinity’: Takva, a Mortal Individual’s Fight for Becoming‐Imperceptible

Abstract

The highly controversial Turkish film Takva (A Man’s Fear of God) tells the story of a radical Muslim, Muharrem (Erkan Can), who leads an ascetic life, the aim of which is simply to get closer to his creator. The film presents Muharrem’s conflict and trauma caused by an inevitable encounter with the ‘other’: various people with different beliefs and ideas. His safe pattern as an imperceptible member of the congregation disappears and, losing his ability to move in this new world, Muharrem becomes catatonic and turns into an internal exile imprisoned in his own body. In Takva, religion and the congregation become visible and tangible through visual and haptic patterns. Muharrem, the main protagonist, is defined as the site of trauma between different worlds and as the loner who has to face the ‘other’ in close‐up. This article explores the representation of Islam in the film Takva in connection with a Deleuze and Guattarian becoming.