Turkish films run for film festival’s Golden Tulip
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Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 06, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Turkey’s biggest film festival, the Istanbul International Film Festival, opens with 14 Turkish films running for the Golden Tulip in the national competition. Here’s a look at some of this year’s runners, which are already known to Turkish audiences
Turkey’s most anticipated film festival opened last weekend in six movie theaters to a frenzy of movie buffs. This year, 14 Turkish films will be competing for the Golden Tulip award in the Istanbul International Film Festival’s national competition.
The competition will screen last year’s award-winners, festival favorites and some newcomers. The jury of the competition will be led by director Kutluğ Ataman, and include TimeOut Film Editor Geoff Andrew, writer Ayşe Kulin, producer Zeynep Özbatur, Sarajevon International Film Festival Director Mirsad Purivatra, and actress Bennu Yıldırımlar. Here’s a look at some of the highlights of the national competition. Check this space on Wednesday for information on more of the Turkish films screened in the festival.
Süt (Milk): The second film in Yusuf’s Trilogy, "Süt" marks the return of director Semih Kaplanoğlu following last year’s acclaimed "Yumurta" (Egg). The first film, and the last in chronological order, had told the haunting tale of Yusuf’s alienation in Istanbul, and how he had to face his past when he returned to his hometown upon his mother’s death. "Süt," a coming-of-age film, goes back in time to tell the story of how Yusuf parts from his small town and his mother, with Başak Köklükaya and Melih Selçuk in the leading roles. Kaplanoğlu’s name has been a fixture in national and international film festivals, having won awards for all of his films. "Süt" was one of the films running for the Golden Lion in this year’s Venice Film Festival.
Pandora’nın Kutusu (Pandora’s Box): Having become an international name nearly a decade ago with her ground-breaking film "Güneşe Yolculuk" (Journey to the Sun), director Yeşim Ustaoğlu returns with her new film "Pandora’nın Kutusu," following her acclaimed documentary, "Sırtlarındaki Hayat" (Life On Their Shoulders) in 2004. Having won two awards, including the Golden Shell in the recent San Sebastian Film Festival, "Pandora’nın Kutusu" takes its characters to the Black Sea region, a familiar place for Ustaoğlu. Three middle-aged siblings journey to their hometown to find their Alzheimer-inflicted missing mother. An interesting choice to play the mother, French actress Tsilla Chelton won the best actress award at San Sebastian.
Dynamics of the outskirts
Vicdan (Conscience): "Vicdan" marks both the return and the jubilee of one of Turkish cinema’s masters, Erden Kıral, who created such classics as "Dilan," "Hakkari’de Bir Mevsim" (A Season in Hakkari) and "Mavi Sürgün" (The Blue Exile). The film was inspired by newspapers’ third-page news, focusing on scandal, family tragedies and sexual escapades gone wrong in Turkey’s lower class. "Vicdan" takes us to rural Turkey, to the impending doom of a love triangle. Young and famous talents, Nurgül Yeşilçay, Murat Han and Tülin Özen star in the movie, which hit the cinemas nationwide last week.
İki Çizgi (Two Lines): With two documentaries and a short film in his resume, "İki Çizgi" is young director Selim Evci’s debut feature. The recent screening of the film, part relationship drama, part road movie, at last year’s Golden Orange Film Festival wasn’t successful in impressing the audience and the critics alike. The film tells the story of an urban couple as they deal with their relationship as it falls apart in the harsh dynamics of Istanbul. "İki Çizgi," mostly, has been called stilted, slow and with poor judgment on urban relationships, with positive reviews only going to Gülçin Santırcıoğlu, who plays the female half of the couple.
Başka Semtin Çocukları (Children of the Other Side): Known for his work in TV, especially the popular series "Ihlamurlar Altında" (Under the Linden Trees), director Aydın Bulut makes his feature debut with "Başka Semtin Çocukları." The film is a murder mystery set in the ghettos of Istanbul, specifically the renowned Gazi outskirts famous for the political turmoil it has been associated with for the last decade. A young man returns from his arduous military days in the Southeast, to find out that his brother was found dead in the dumpsters. Bulut is no stranger to the dynamics of Gazi, as he filmed a documentary a decade ago on the armed fight among the inhabitants of the region and the police in 1995 that led to the death of 17 people. Director Bulut knows the intricate social dynamics of the Gazi outskirts, and he’s an experienced TV director. He might strike a right chord with his murder mystery with layered political roots.
Brit favorite
Hayat Var (My Only Sunshine): Director Reha Erdem’s previous film "Beş Vakit" (Times and Winds), a sweet and sad coming-of-age story set in rural Turkey, was a success both nationally and internationally, becoming a favorite of British critics two years ago. His latest film "Hayat Var" has 14-year-old girl, Hayat, as its protagonist. The film takes a look at Hayat’s struggle for survival with her bedridden grandfather and no-good father engaged in unlawful ventures with his boat. The dark and beautiful water of Istanbul’s Bosphorus becomes a central character. Director Erdem earlier had said that the film would be darker than his previous work.
The competition will screen last year’s award-winners, festival favorites and some newcomers. The jury of the competition will be led by director Kutluğ Ataman, and include TimeOut Film Editor Geoff Andrew, writer Ayşe Kulin, producer Zeynep Özbatur, Sarajevon International Film Festival Director Mirsad Purivatra, and actress Bennu Yıldırımlar. Here’s a look at some of the highlights of the national competition. Check this space on Wednesday for information on more of the Turkish films screened in the festival.
Süt (Milk): The second film in Yusuf’s Trilogy, "Süt" marks the return of director Semih Kaplanoğlu following last year’s acclaimed "Yumurta" (Egg). The first film, and the last in chronological order, had told the haunting tale of Yusuf’s alienation in Istanbul, and how he had to face his past when he returned to his hometown upon his mother’s death. "Süt," a coming-of-age film, goes back in time to tell the story of how Yusuf parts from his small town and his mother, with Başak Köklükaya and Melih Selçuk in the leading roles. Kaplanoğlu’s name has been a fixture in national and international film festivals, having won awards for all of his films. "Süt" was one of the films running for the Golden Lion in this year’s Venice Film Festival.
Pandora’nın Kutusu (Pandora’s Box): Having become an international name nearly a decade ago with her ground-breaking film "Güneşe Yolculuk" (Journey to the Sun), director Yeşim Ustaoğlu returns with her new film "Pandora’nın Kutusu," following her acclaimed documentary, "Sırtlarındaki Hayat" (Life On Their Shoulders) in 2004. Having won two awards, including the Golden Shell in the recent San Sebastian Film Festival, "Pandora’nın Kutusu" takes its characters to the Black Sea region, a familiar place for Ustaoğlu. Three middle-aged siblings journey to their hometown to find their Alzheimer-inflicted missing mother. An interesting choice to play the mother, French actress Tsilla Chelton won the best actress award at San Sebastian.
Dynamics of the outskirts
Vicdan (Conscience): "Vicdan" marks both the return and the jubilee of one of Turkish cinema’s masters, Erden Kıral, who created such classics as "Dilan," "Hakkari’de Bir Mevsim" (A Season in Hakkari) and "Mavi Sürgün" (The Blue Exile). The film was inspired by newspapers’ third-page news, focusing on scandal, family tragedies and sexual escapades gone wrong in Turkey’s lower class. "Vicdan" takes us to rural Turkey, to the impending doom of a love triangle. Young and famous talents, Nurgül Yeşilçay, Murat Han and Tülin Özen star in the movie, which hit the cinemas nationwide last week.
İki Çizgi (Two Lines): With two documentaries and a short film in his resume, "İki Çizgi" is young director Selim Evci’s debut feature. The recent screening of the film, part relationship drama, part road movie, at last year’s Golden Orange Film Festival wasn’t successful in impressing the audience and the critics alike. The film tells the story of an urban couple as they deal with their relationship as it falls apart in the harsh dynamics of Istanbul. "İki Çizgi," mostly, has been called stilted, slow and with poor judgment on urban relationships, with positive reviews only going to Gülçin Santırcıoğlu, who plays the female half of the couple.
Başka Semtin Çocukları (Children of the Other Side): Known for his work in TV, especially the popular series "Ihlamurlar Altında" (Under the Linden Trees), director Aydın Bulut makes his feature debut with "Başka Semtin Çocukları." The film is a murder mystery set in the ghettos of Istanbul, specifically the renowned Gazi outskirts famous for the political turmoil it has been associated with for the last decade. A young man returns from his arduous military days in the Southeast, to find out that his brother was found dead in the dumpsters. Bulut is no stranger to the dynamics of Gazi, as he filmed a documentary a decade ago on the armed fight among the inhabitants of the region and the police in 1995 that led to the death of 17 people. Director Bulut knows the intricate social dynamics of the Gazi outskirts, and he’s an experienced TV director. He might strike a right chord with his murder mystery with layered political roots.
Brit favorite
Hayat Var (My Only Sunshine): Director Reha Erdem’s previous film "Beş Vakit" (Times and Winds), a sweet and sad coming-of-age story set in rural Turkey, was a success both nationally and internationally, becoming a favorite of British critics two years ago. His latest film "Hayat Var" has 14-year-old girl, Hayat, as its protagonist. The film takes a look at Hayat’s struggle for survival with her bedridden grandfather and no-good father engaged in unlawful ventures with his boat. The dark and beautiful water of Istanbul’s Bosphorus becomes a central character. Director Erdem earlier had said that the film would be darker than his previous work.