I Saw the Sun (2009)

In the southeast region of Turkey, the Altun family lives in a small mountainside village plagued by a 25-year war, making their daily life a hellish struggle. As the war continues to ... See full summary »

Directors:

Mahsun Kirmizigül, Irmak Sueri

Writer:

Mahsun Kirmizigül

Stars:

Mahsun Kirmizigül, Demet Evgar, Murat Ünalmis

6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mahsun Kirmizigül	...	Ramo
Demet Evgar	...	Havar
Murat Ünalmis	...	Mamo
Cemal Toktas	...	Kadri
Erol Demiröz	...	Haydar
Altan Erkekli	...	Davut
Emre Kinay	...	Musto
Menderes Samancilar	...	Cuma
Serif Sezer	...	Gülistan
Ceyhun Fersoy	...	Service Elemani
Ali Sürmeli	...	Nedim
Yigit Özsener	...	Lieutenant Caner
Cansu Aktay	...	Delal
Sarp Apak	...	Soldier Ahmet
Zabit Arslan	...	Ekrem

Storyline

In the southeast region of Turkey, the Altun family lives in a small mountainside village plagued by a 25-year war, making their daily life a hellish struggle. As the war continues to intensify, the family is forced to migrate west to the city of Istanbul. While Haydar and Isa Altun decide to stay in Turkey with their young children, Davut Altun and his family migrate north to Norway, enlisting the help of smugglers. They eventually reach their destination and find work in a supermarket, but life as refugees proves relentless. Back in Istanbul, Haydar watches over the family as his wife undergoes an operation due to pregnancy complications. Their son makes friends with a group of transvestites, helping him to understand why he has felt different all of his life. While liberating, his newfound identity is seen as a disgrace to the rest of his family, leading him to flee from the abuse it produces.

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Plot Keywords:

man crying | crying | gun | washing machine | brother killing brother | 

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Taglines:

Children here don't shape their own destiny.

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Turkey's official submission to 82nd Academy Award's Foreign Language in 2010.

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Goofs

At the starting scene you can see 2 attack helicopters those are Mil Mi-24 helicopters (Russian made) and Turkey doesn't have helicopters like this ones.

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Soundtracks

You Owe Me
Lyrics and Music by Raga Oktay

User Reviews

movie in conformity with standards

How the movie started, you expect a war movie. But it was not more then the reason for the consequences what could occur. Everything what could occur, only just one family suffered very much, at the cost of the trustworthiness. Leaving your homeland concerned all families and all other consequences were forced. Although this is not a political movie stones were thrown to politicians.

The casting was almost the same like in other films where Kurdish people are involved. Sometimes it is boring. In this movie the great actors were under their level. No facial emotions only physical presence. But shouting women were touching.

The name of the movie has been also explained. A minor issue cannot carry the title, it is misleading not because of director's creativity but the story is not set right. Who lives in Turkey knows a lot about this subject. This knowledge will fill in when it is not right. The intention will be understood.

Further, technical things are in conformity with standards.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Turkey

Language:

Turkish Norwegian Kurdish

Release Date:

13 March 2009 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

I Saw the Sun

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,477,630

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boyut Film

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1