Turkish actresses walk on red carpet in French Riviera
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Daily News with wires
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 19, 2009 10:57
ISTANBUL - Famous Turkish actresses Hatice Aslan and Saadet Işıl Aksoy, who star in Bulgarian director Kamen Kalev’s film ’Eastern Plays,’ walked on the red carpet of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival for the screening of the film. The film is highly appreciated by critics and audiences
Bulgarian director Kamen Kalev’s film "Eastern Plays," starring Turkish actresses Hatice Aslan and Saadet Işıl Aksoy, was screened at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival over the weekend. The film was shown in the "15 Days of Directors" category, and was warmly received by both audiences and critics.
Christo Chistov, who plays the lead as a drug addicted young man, was also a drug addict in real life and died after completing the film. "We dedicate the film to Chistov," said director Kalev before the film was screened. At the end of the film, the director and other actors were visibly crying for their late friend.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Kalev said: "The film tells of intolerance and a lack of communication within society and family, and draws attention to the indifference of politicians to this threat." He said the racist movements in the film could be seen in any society and pointed out the importance of fighting against it.
Kalev also mentioned that the film starred artists from Turkey and Bulgaria, who share many common values and traditions.
Turkish artists
Turkish actress Aksoy, one of the leading roles in the film, said it was her second time at the famous festival, and added that the death of the film’s leading male actor made the film very meaningful and different from others.
Turkish actress Aslan attended the festival last year for "Üç Maymun" (Three Monkeys), which earned its director, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, the Best Director Award. Aslan expressed her happiness to have been a part of the film, but also her sadness for losing their friend. In addition to Aksoy and Aslan, Turkish actor Kerem Atabeyoğlu also stars in the film. Among the other artists are Bulgarian actor Ovanes Torosian and Bulgarian actress Nikolina Yancheva. The film was shot with a limited budget in 2008 in Sofia and a small part of it was shot in Istanbul. It was presented as a work in progress at the sixth edition of Sofia Meetings, and attracted serious attention from representatives from different festivals. The film is among the favorites for the "Camera D’or" award of the festival.
"Eastern Plays" is the debut feature film of director Kalev, who was born in 1975 in Burgas city. He has several highly-appreciated short films, decorated with prestigious international awards, and has also filmed advertisements and music video clips of well-known Bulgarian musicians.
Synopsis of the film
The script of "Eastern Plays" follows a boy that tries to discover the meaning of his life. George is 17 years old and in constant conflict with his parents. In his attempt to look manlier, he joins a skinhead gang. His brother Itzo is a drug addict who is undergoing treatment.
Izil, a Turkish girl from Istanbul, is in her late 20s. Izil and her parents are on their way to Berlin to visit her brother. After a long drive through Bulgaria, the family decides to take a break and spend the night in Sofia. The night turns into a nightmare when the family becomes the victim of a skinheads’ attack in which George is also involved. Itzo accidentally witnesses the attack, and in an attempt to defend the Turkish family, he suffers a severe beating himself.
Izil's father sustains a few injuries and is hospitalized. The hospital becomes a meeting room of intimacy. While Izil and Itzo are spellbound by each other, George and Itzo grow closer for the first time. With the help of his brother, George realizes the insanity and delusion he had got himself into. Izil's parents soon discover the attraction between their daughter and Itzo. Izil's father refuses to accept their relationship. Ethnic intolerance is present in his decision and he takes the family back to Istanbul.
Christo Chistov, who plays the lead as a drug addicted young man, was also a drug addict in real life and died after completing the film. "We dedicate the film to Chistov," said director Kalev before the film was screened. At the end of the film, the director and other actors were visibly crying for their late friend.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Kalev said: "The film tells of intolerance and a lack of communication within society and family, and draws attention to the indifference of politicians to this threat." He said the racist movements in the film could be seen in any society and pointed out the importance of fighting against it.
Kalev also mentioned that the film starred artists from Turkey and Bulgaria, who share many common values and traditions.
Turkish artists
Turkish actress Aksoy, one of the leading roles in the film, said it was her second time at the famous festival, and added that the death of the film’s leading male actor made the film very meaningful and different from others.
Turkish actress Aslan attended the festival last year for "Üç Maymun" (Three Monkeys), which earned its director, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, the Best Director Award. Aslan expressed her happiness to have been a part of the film, but also her sadness for losing their friend. In addition to Aksoy and Aslan, Turkish actor Kerem Atabeyoğlu also stars in the film. Among the other artists are Bulgarian actor Ovanes Torosian and Bulgarian actress Nikolina Yancheva. The film was shot with a limited budget in 2008 in Sofia and a small part of it was shot in Istanbul. It was presented as a work in progress at the sixth edition of Sofia Meetings, and attracted serious attention from representatives from different festivals. The film is among the favorites for the "Camera D’or" award of the festival.
"Eastern Plays" is the debut feature film of director Kalev, who was born in 1975 in Burgas city. He has several highly-appreciated short films, decorated with prestigious international awards, and has also filmed advertisements and music video clips of well-known Bulgarian musicians.
Synopsis of the film
The script of "Eastern Plays" follows a boy that tries to discover the meaning of his life. George is 17 years old and in constant conflict with his parents. In his attempt to look manlier, he joins a skinhead gang. His brother Itzo is a drug addict who is undergoing treatment.
Izil, a Turkish girl from Istanbul, is in her late 20s. Izil and her parents are on their way to Berlin to visit her brother. After a long drive through Bulgaria, the family decides to take a break and spend the night in Sofia. The night turns into a nightmare when the family becomes the victim of a skinheads’ attack in which George is also involved. Itzo accidentally witnesses the attack, and in an attempt to defend the Turkish family, he suffers a severe beating himself.
Izil's father sustains a few injuries and is hospitalized. The hospital becomes a meeting room of intimacy. While Izil and Itzo are spellbound by each other, George and Itzo grow closer for the first time. With the help of his brother, George realizes the insanity and delusion he had got himself into. Izil's parents soon discover the attraction between their daughter and Itzo. Izil's father refuses to accept their relationship. Ethnic intolerance is present in his decision and he takes the family back to Istanbul.