Haluk Bilginer Movies

When sexagenarian cop Musa Rami (Haluk Bilinger) eschews retirement to focus on bringing down a highly connected local gang, his fellow officers begin to wonder whether he has finally gone off the deep end. The thing his friends and co-workers don't realize, however, is that Rami has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only two months to live. Realizing that he has nothing to lose either personally or professionally, the veteran cop set out to clean up the streets while also pining for a pretty sociology student named Funda (Ozgu Namal). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Following the success of Hamam, Turkey-born, Italy-based Ferzan Ozpetek delivers another exotic film that delves into the traditions of his origin. Once again, the exotic city of Istanbul is the place of intrigue. But, unlike Hamam, which was a contemporary story, Harem Suare takes place at the turn of the century in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. The locale of this ornate story of love, power, and fear is the magnificent Yildiz Palace, where Sultan Abdulhamit whiles away the time listening to the finale of La Traviata as rebellions rage all over the country. The Sultan cannot stand unhappy endings, so he has asked Safiye, his favorite concubine, who is Italian, to rewrite the libretto so that Violetta does not die. Nadir, one of the black eunuchs, has plans for Safiye, whom he thinks should become the official wife. Nadir's plans take a different turn when he and Safiye fall in love. In the harem, which is isolated from the rest of the world, life goes on with its plots and subplots, loyalties and betrayals, happiness and tragedies as if time did not exist. The story is told from the point of view of Safiye, concentrating more on human relations than on palace politics. The director plays with mirror images to reflect the two faces of personalities and the complexities of intercultural relations. Mythology is blended with sexuality, emphasizing the delicate nuances of language. The exotic element is not abused and historical details are used sparingly and only when necessary. Acting by young French actress Marie Gillain, who plays Safiye, and Lucia Bose, who plays her in old age, as well as Alex Descas as the eunuch Nadir and famous Turkish actor Haluk Bilginer as Sultan Abdulhamid are all commendable. 52nd Cannes Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide

Ozkan (Zuhai Olcay) has been having a little affair with a Turkish politician, and she likes the feeling of power it gives her. When she responds negatively to his attempts to foreshorten one of their dates because he is very busy, she suffers the consequences of the rage she provokes. Afterwards, she decides to sue him for sexual harassment, which makes a big splash in the media. After this has gone on for a while, the politician's wife visits her and tries to reason with her. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

The title of this stark political melodrama translates to Cloud in Love. Zuhal Olcay plays the central character, a Turkish wife and mother. Arrested on what seem to be highly suspect charges, Olcay is exposed to the horrors of the Turkish prison system. Her spirit broken by systematic torture, she finds it impossible to convey her pain and humiliation to her family when she is finally released. Kara Sevdeli Bulut is very much a one-man operation: Muammar Ozer not only directed, but also wrote and photographed the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Considered one of the great box-office turkeys of its decade, Ishtar was an attempt by writer/director Elaine May and stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty to do a modern-day road picture in the style of the much-loved Bob Hope and Bing Crosby comedy classics. Beatty is Lyle Rogers, a dimwitted songwriter who befriends and partners with Chuck Clarke (Hoffman), who is only slightly more intelligent but every bit as untalented. Together the duo dreams of becoming a big-time lounge act, but their songs, with titles like "That a Lawnmower Can Do All That," are unintentionally hilarious. Chuck becomes suicidal, but just when it seems they'll never strike it rich, the boys are offered a shady gig at a North African hotel, entertaining U.S. troops stationed in the tiny nation of Ishtar. On their way to accept the job, Lyle, Chuck, and their blind camel are sidetracked by a mysterious woman (Isabelle Adjani) and a scheming CIA agent (Charles Grodin), who are involved in a rebellion against the country's emir. The memorable songs crafted by Chuck and Lyle were written by actor and composer Paul Williams. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide