The year of politics and thrillers in Turkish cinema

2011 in Turkish cinema saw political propaganda cede its place to more objective storytelling and directors hone their craft with action/thriller-type films. In 2012, meanwhile, vampires are getting ready to sink their teeth into cinemas

Last year might not have been the most inspirational one in Turkey’s cinematic history, but it saw the biggest number of movies released in 20 years. There were the obligatory award-winning art house movies, and the mainstream comedies aiming for cheap laughs.

But 2011 was also the year political propaganda gave way to a more refined method of storytelling in regard to Turkey’s recent history. 2011 also saw some directors try their craft in action/thrillers to impressive effect. Here’s a look at some examples of the trends in 2011 films, though there were many more that could have made our list.

Click here for full article (Hürriyet Daily News)

Young director Şahin impresses with '40'

Director and writer Emre Şahin’s award-winning debut feature, ’40,’ features three strangers whose destinies intertwine around a bag full of money. The fast-paced drama is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise dull movie season

The lives of three people are about to change dramatically, when a bag full of money stirs up the streets of Istanbul in the debut feature of director and writer Emre Şahin, 40. The subject in a nutshell seems to be very similar to the 2005 short film Çanta (Briefcase). That award-winning short, in fact, was directed by Şahin as well.

Şahin’s fascination with Istanbul, his admiration for Quentin Tarantino and his background as a documentary director mix and match in this fast-paced movie that defies any genre.

40 features three strangers who are brought together by the mysterious bag full of money. Metin (Ali Atay), like many others, has come to Istanbul from Anatolia with big dreams, only to end up being a taxi driver and a drug dealer on the side, continuously cursing his luck.

Click here for full review (Hürriyet Daily News)