In Sivas wachsen die Dichter Filming Locations

The Alevis draw their religious tradition from Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, just like the Iranian Shiites. However, the Alevis do not see themselves as fundamentalists, but rather as a liberal and open-minded community. In Alevi culture, special importance is attached to singing, dancing and festivals celebrated within the community. The musicians are called Ashik, "those who love God". In their songs, the Ashiks mix the history passed down through the generations with current events. They see themselves as the poets who continue to tell the story and the suffering of their people. The Turkish Alevis have been persecuted by the religious majority, the Sunnis, throughout the centuries and considered "infidels". With the advance of Islamic fundamentalism, they have become the legitimate target of religious fanatics. During the filming, the hotel in which the Alevis were meeting was set on fire by a crowd of fundamentalists causing the death of 37 people, including some of the poets and musicians who participated in this film.