Cinema
Arabesk
Ertem Eğilmez · 1988
Synopsis
Two lovers, played by Şener Şen and Müjde Ar, are separated every time they find each other again, and always for ever more absurd reasons, according to Istanbul Modern. The film thus strings together the obligatory misfortunes of Yeşilçam and arabesk melodramas, the plaintive music that then dominated the country, in order to laugh at them. The İKSV sees in it an outright mockery of that era, which stages through humour the cultural defeat of suffering turned into an art of living.
Context
The screenplay is by Gani Müjde, and the direction is shared with Ferdi Eğilmez, according to the İKSV; the cinematography is by Aytekin Çakmakçı and the music by Atilla Özdemiroğlu and Aysel Gürel. Uğur Yücel and Necati Bilgiç surround the leading couple. Produced by Arzu Film and Erler Film, it broke box-office records, and its lines are still quoted. A restored print was shown at the Istanbul festival for its thirtieth anniversary.
Who it is for
A comedy in Turkish of one hour thirty-four, shown restored with English subtitles; no French release known.
Prizes and reception
Attendance records on its release, according to the İKSV; no festival prize is known for it.
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