''The Messenger'' ( tr, Ulak) is a 2007 Turkish
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
, written and directed by
Çağan Irmak
Çağan Irmak (born 4 April 1970) is a Turkish film and television writer and director, who has managed to attract a large audience in Turkey and is best known for the TV series '' Çemberimde Gül Oya'' (2004–2005) and ''Asmalı Konak'' (2002 ...
, which follows a man who travels from village to village to tell children stories about a messenger named İbrahim. The film, which was selected for film festivals in
Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
,
Adana
Adana (; ; ) is a major city in southern Turkey. It is situated on the Seyhan River, inland from the Mediterranean Sea. The administrative seat of Adana Province, Adana province, it has a population of 2.26 million.
Adana lies in the heart ...
and
Antalya
Antalya () is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, fifth-most populous city in Turkey as well as the capital of Antalya Province. Located on Anatolia's southwest coast bordered by the Taurus Mountains, Antalya is the largest Turkish cit ...
, went on general release across Turkey on and is one of the highest grossing
Turkish films of 2008
A list of films produced by the Turkish film industry in Turkey in 2008.
Highest-grossing films
Released films
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turkish Films Of 2008
2008
Turkey
Films
A film also called a movie, motion pictu ...
.
Plot
A mysterious traveller Zekeriya arrives at a village. He captivates much of the village's people by telling tales of a messenger on horseback named İbrahim. The village becomes divided on him, each one taking on various personalities from other stories.
Cast
*
Çetin Tekindor (Zekeriya)
*
Hümeyra Akbay
Fatma Hümeyra Akbay (; born 15 October 1947) is a Turkish actress, singer, composer, and lyricist. In the 1970s she was a noted singer and actress. Her popularity with the new generation rose in the 2000s with the hit sitcom ''Avrupa Yakası'', ...
(Meryem)
*
Yetkin Dikinciler
Yetkin Dikinciler (born 15 August 1969) is a Turkish actor.
Biography
Yetkin Dikinciler graduated in Theatre from the State Conservatory of Mimar Sinan University.
He was awarded "Best Actor" for his role as Nazım Hikmet in ''Mavi Gözlü Dev'' ...
(Tahsin Kıroğlu)
*
Şerif Sezer (Esma)
*
Kaya Akkaya (Ömer - Yunus)
*
Melis Birkan
Melis Birkan (born 15 July 1982) is a Turkish actress.
She has starred in Çağan Irmak
Çağan Irmak (born 4 April 1970) is a Turkish film and television writer and director, who has managed to attract a large audience in Turkey and is b ...
(Emine - Ümmü)
*
Feride Çetin
Feride Çetin (born 5 November 1980) is a Turkish actress. She has appeared in more than ten films since 2005.
Selected filmography
References
External links
*
1980 births
Living people
Turkish film actresses
Turkish televisio ...
(Havva)
*
Şener Kökkaya (Kahveci Dursun)
*
Mahir İpek (İkram)
*
Zuhal Gencer Erkaya (Cemile)
*
Mahmut Gökgöz (Selman)
Release
Festival screenings
*
27th Istanbul International Film Festival (April 5–20, 2008)
*
15th International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival (June 2–8, 2008)
*
45th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (October 10–19, 2008)
Reception
Reviews
''
Today's Zaman
''Today's Zaman'' (Zaman is Turkish for 'time' or 'age') was an English-language daily newspaper based in Turkey. Established on 17 January 2007, it was the English-language edition of the Turkish daily '' Zaman.'' ''Today's Zaman'' included dom ...
'' reviewer Fatih Selvi says this, ''is the kind of film which, as you watch it, you'll start looking inside. It is as though, from the very beginning of the film to the end, you are wandering around in a fairy tale. But not just as an observer and a listener, rather, as though you are interacting with everything. It is a film that makes viewers ask themselves "is this real, or just a story?" over and over again, starting off somewhat like one of the stories your grandmothers and grandfathers might have told you when you were young. But as the film goes on, following the courier's specific tale, everything changes color suddenly.'' ''Perhaps Irmak is trying to tell a story from centuries of years ago with this film. Or perhaps this is a story from these days. But whatever the time frame, the message contained in the story is applicable to yesterday, today and even tomorrow. Maybe the film is an attempt to reach tomorrow using the language of yesterday. In any case, the actors are different but the roles are the same. The director underscores the necessity of people like İbrahim in today's world, with all its vulgarities.'' ''While cinematographer Mirsad Herovic captures scenes as beautifully as he did in "
Babam and Oğlum," Evanthia Reboutsika's musical score adds incredible sounds and action to the visuals. Hümeyra, Şerif Sezer and Yetkin Dikinciler, as well as all the younger stars of this film, deliver great performances while Çetin Tekindor in the role of Zekeriya is quite unforgettable.''
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Messenger, The
2008 films
Films set in Turkey
2000s Turkish-language films
2008 drama films
2000s fantasy drama films
Turkish fantasy drama films
Films directed by Çağan Irmak