Elijah_Bailey Reviews

Süt Kardesler (1976)

Classical Turkish comedy from 70s

[8/10 · 17 August 2009]

Sut Kardesler (Foster Brothers), now a definite comedy classic in Turkey, is an adaptation from an early XX. century Turkish novel (Gulyabani by Gurpinar). It is also an adaptation of the traditional Turkish theater, mainly based on improvisation, misunderstandings, practical jokes, etc. The adapting process is not limited only to the elements of Turkish culture: it also borrows (without permission) some scenes from "A Shot in the Dark" by Blake Edwards. The cast is nearly the entire squad of the Turkish comedy actors in the 70s (with the exception of Munir Ozkul). The result was a definite commercial success and the movie's popularity is not diminished, if not enlarged, over the thirty years of its production. Although the director, Ertem Egilmez, is not considered as a milestone in Turkish cinematography, he delivers the project quite successfully, provides an original musical score (which is an issue in the movies of this era), prevents the overshadowing of Sener Sen who is in a supportive role by then comedy-duo Kemal Sunal and Halit Akcatepe. The movie does not have sequels but it is seen by many as the first one of a trilogy (Others being Sabanoglu Saban and Tosun Pasa). These other two movies have more or less the same cast as Sut Kardesler, based on the same formula, both being commercial success, but never quite as popular as the former. For the Turkish audience the movie is like a bed time story from their childhood, the plot and the jokes are well known but still appealing, with the strong flavor of nostalgia. But for someone who is not familiar with the actors and local jokes, it is just an old fashion burlesque comedy, related in a way to French or Italian comedies before 80s.

The Man Who Saved the World (1982)

It is a hard task

[3 February 2003]

It is a hard task to make a bad movie. You cannot just start by saying "Let's do the worst ever". It won't work. Like milestones 'worst ever's are also result of seriousness and hard work. The Man who Saves the World is a serious movie. It is not intended to be a parody of sci-fi's. It is a hard core science fiction and its director, Inanc, got insulted when people make fun of 'The Man who'. Currently at Festivals its sponsors "shamefully presents" and it is already a cult object in its native land. The Achilles' heel lays in its lack of subtitles. The movie itself was one of my motivators behind learning Turkish. The dialogues made me suspicious about my Turkish because they really present a Pulp Fictionist nature. Maybe they did not go too philosophical because the country was under the military rule when the movie was made. Maybe the scriptwriter just lacks the insight.

This is not the sole example of Turkish science fiction movies. The first ever Star Trek movie is made by Turkish Cinema before 1979 Star Trek the Motion Picture. That one is by purpose ridiculizing Star Trek. However it adapts better sci-fi tricks that "The Man Who". I strongly advise Trekkies to get a copy of this "Turist Omer Uzay Yolunda" and be ready for sips (Unfortunately there is no Klingon on the movie). You can even find Captain America or Supermen among sci-fi and fantasy section of Turkish Cinema. I have to confess that Third World movies amaze me.