I Saw the Sun
Encyclopedia
I Saw the Sun is a 2009 Turkish
drama film
, written and directed by Mahsun Kırmızıgül
, which tells of a Kurdish family who are forced from their village in southeastern Turkey by the conflict there. The film, which was released on , was one of the highest grossing Turkish films of 2009
, prompting its re-release on . The film was Turkey's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
at the 82nd Academy Awards
, but it was not nominated.
, whose 21-member family had to abandon their village around 15 years previously. I was overwhelmed by what he told me. As I am a native of that region myself, I thought I would recount the story in the way it deserves. I hope everyone gets the right message from the film, Kırmızıgül said. Those who watch this film will see that nothing can be solved through hatred. My aim is to stop the bloodshed by boosting Turkish-Kurdish fellowship. This film will delve more strongly into the concepts of brotherhood and unity. We have to love each other without prejudice because nothing can be solved with hatred.
Veteran screen actor Cezmi Baskın, who has a minor role in the film, stated Mahsun has a rising momentum in [Turkish] cinema. He is a professional and his communication with the actors was excellent. I believe he filmed the story he wanted to tell in the best way he could.
A second special gala screening was held at Panora Cinema in Ankara on attended by a number of high-profile guests, including Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek
, who said the film aptly portrays the pain and anguish Turkey has suffered in the last 25 years and includes some very accurate messages, and Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay
, who said the very bold and realistic film showed Turkey’s wounds in all its reality and proposed big steps to be taken to heal those wounds.
At the film’s premiere in Istanbul Kırmızıgül said, I hope the message of our film reaches the public as quickly as possible, at the following screening in Ankara he said, Message transmitted.
reviewer Ermine Yıldırım, which actually works in achieving its goal of spreading a thing or two about humanity and unconditional fraternity, even though there's ample force-feeding through its languorous monologues of micro-politics. Nevertheless, Kırmızıgül's message cannot go unnoticed as he continually underlines the importance of different segments of society living in harmony and the ideal that the state is not a divider but a caregiver. Kırmızıgül might not be a great filmmaker, Yıldırım concludes, but he is on his way to becoming a true philanthropist.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
, written and directed by Mahsun Kırmızıgül
Mahsun Kirmizigül
Mahsun Kırmızıgül is a Kurdish singer–songwriter, actor and a film producer from the minority Zaza ethnic group. Mahsun Kırmızıgül is also known as a businessman owning one of the leading music production companies, Prestij Müzik, in Turkey....
, which tells of a Kurdish family who are forced from their village in southeastern Turkey by the conflict there. The film, which was released on , was one of the highest grossing Turkish films of 2009
Turkish films of 2009
A list of films produced by the Turkish film industry in Turkey in 2009.- Highest-grossing films :- January – June :- July – December :- References :...
, prompting its re-release on . The film was Turkey's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 82nd Academy Awards
82nd Academy Awards
The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2009 and took place March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. The ceremony was scheduled well after...
, but it was not nominated.
Production
Writer-director Mahsun Kırmızıgül has stated that the screenplay was inspired by the story of a man he met during the filming of his debut film The White AngelThe White Angel
The White Angel is a 2007 Turkish drama film, written and directed by Mahsun Kırmızıgül, which follows the story of two Eastern youths who find themselves in a rest home after their father comes down with cancer...
, whose 21-member family had to abandon their village around 15 years previously. I was overwhelmed by what he told me. As I am a native of that region myself, I thought I would recount the story in the way it deserves. I hope everyone gets the right message from the film, Kırmızıgül said. Those who watch this film will see that nothing can be solved through hatred. My aim is to stop the bloodshed by boosting Turkish-Kurdish fellowship. This film will delve more strongly into the concepts of brotherhood and unity. We have to love each other without prejudice because nothing can be solved with hatred.
Veteran screen actor Cezmi Baskın, who has a minor role in the film, stated Mahsun has a rising momentum in [Turkish] cinema. He is a professional and his communication with the actors was excellent. I believe he filmed the story he wanted to tell in the best way he could.
Plot
The film tells of a Kurdish family who head to İstanbul from their village in southeastern Turkey. Part of the family tries to emigrate to Norway.Premiere
The film premiered at a special gala screening at the AFM İstinye Park Cinema in Istanbul on at which, according to writer-director Mahsun Kırmızıgül, the audience reflected the emotion in the film.A second special gala screening was held at Panora Cinema in Ankara on attended by a number of high-profile guests, including Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek
Cemil Çiçek
Cemil Çiçek is a Turkish politician who is the current Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey since July 4, 2011. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey and Justice and Development Party Member of Parliament from Ankara. He was formerly Minister of Justice and government spokesman.-Early...
, who said the film aptly portrays the pain and anguish Turkey has suffered in the last 25 years and includes some very accurate messages, and Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay
Ertugrul Günay
Ertuğrul Günay is a Turkish politician. He has been the Minister of Culture and Tourism since August 2007.-Biography:...
, who said the very bold and realistic film showed Turkey’s wounds in all its reality and proposed big steps to be taken to heal those wounds.
At the film’s premiere in Istanbul Kırmızıgül said, I hope the message of our film reaches the public as quickly as possible, at the following screening in Ankara he said, Message transmitted.
General release
The film opened on nationwide general release in 355 screens across Turkey on at number one in the Turkish box-office with a first weekend gross of US$2,539,362. The film was re-released in 31 screens across Turkey on with little success.Festival screenings
- 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival (October 17-25, 2009)
- 33rd Cairo International Film Festival (November 10-20, 2009)
- 40th International Film Festival of India (November 28-December 3, 2009)
Box office
The film was at number one in the Turkish box office charts for 5 weeks of its 11 week run and was the third highest-grossing Turkish film of 2009 with a total gross of US$12,812,281.Reviews
[The film] is illustrated as an ambitious melodramatic epic through its many subplots and ensemble cast, according to Today's ZamanToday's Zaman
Today's Zaman is one of two English-language dailies based in Turkey. Established on January 16, 2007, the newspaper's main competitor is the older Hürriyet Daily News....
reviewer Ermine Yıldırım, which actually works in achieving its goal of spreading a thing or two about humanity and unconditional fraternity, even though there's ample force-feeding through its languorous monologues of micro-politics. Nevertheless, Kırmızıgül's message cannot go unnoticed as he continually underlines the importance of different segments of society living in harmony and the ideal that the state is not a divider but a caregiver. Kırmızıgül might not be a great filmmaker, Yıldırım concludes, but he is on his way to becoming a true philanthropist.
Awards
- 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival (October 25, 2009) - Asian Film Award (Special Mention)
- 3rd Yeşilçam Awards3rd Yeşilçam AwardsThe 3rd Yeşilçam Awards , presented by the Turkish Foundation of Cinema and Audiovisual Culture and Beyoğlu Municipality, honored the best Turkish films of 2009 and took place on March 23, 2010, at the Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Hall in Istanbul, Turkey...
(March 23, 2010) - Best Supporting Actor: Cemal Toktaş (Won)