Savas Yurttas Movies

Set in the Harbiye district of Antioch two months before the military intervention in May of 1960, director Semir Aslanyurek's comedy drama studies the economic and political tensions of the time by focusing on a local family's struggle with dissenting beliefs. As Cemal's (Canan Hosgor) father and uncle embark on a series of heated political arguments, their frustrations with one another eventually result in drastic measures. Building a wall in their common courtyard in order to keep their families apart, the two men nevertheless continue their feud by climbing the wall and continuing their arguments. Contrasting the fiery, irrational animosity of the splintered family with the peaceful tradition of local citizens who whisper their dreams to the waterfall of Harbiye, young Cemal accompanies his sister Sehra (Zuhal Tatlicioglu) to the waterfall where they youngsters share their dreams. Serving as an apprentice to local barber Bald Selim (Tuncel Kurtiz), Cemal agrees with Selim that a plan to blast the waterfall with dynamite in order to widen the mouth and build a dam is ludicrous. When the construction results in a substantial amount of the water being lost, Cemal and Sehra fret that they will have nowhere to share their dreams. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A night club photographer, obsessed by a young woman who searches for a meaning in the sad faces he photographs every night, follows her through forgotten towns and abandoned places trying to give purpose to her mysterious search. Inspired by Kara Kitap (The Black Book, the internationally acclaimed novel by Orman Pamuk who has written the script, influenced by Sufi philosophy, Gizli Yüz) takes the viewer on a mystical journey where time becomes an important leitmotiv. At times, the audience is as lost as the protagonist in pursuing the unknown. But the film is viewed best when it is taken as it is, without searching for interpretations. The mysterious woman is played by the beautiful and talented Zühal Olcay, who is confortable in this role. In addition to several national awards, Gizli Yüz has won three awards at the Mediterranean Film Festival in Bastia (Corsica) and the Public Prize at the Fribourg Festival in Switzerland. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, Rovi

Sehmus comes from a poor village in Anatolia and has traveled to Istanbul to do some construction work under the leadership of a fellow villager who made the move earlier. However, his real dream is to become a singer, following in the footsteps of someone else from his village of Urfa who hit the big time. In this melodrama, the men working on big buildings share accommodations (a shack on the building site) and camaraderie, while attempting to help Sehmus fulfill his big dream. Alas, when he and his foreman buddy bet all their chips on a rigged talent contest, the consequences are tragic for all concerned. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi