Majority (film)
Encyclopedia
Majority is a 2010 Turkish drama film
directed by Seren Yüce, which tells the story of a middle class young man rebelling against his father's brutish authority while seeking a rough romance with a woman of ethnic minority. The film, which went on nationwide general release across Turkey on , won several Golden Orange awards at the 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and was premiered at the 67th Venice International Film Festival
, where it won the award for best debut film. Hürriyet Daily News reporter Vercihan Zilioğlu wrote that, "The director's moral tale draws on the example of today's Turkish youth and the timeless shadow of fathers over sons," and Today's Zaman
reviewer Emine Yıldırım concludes that this is, "one of the rawest and truest stories from our society," and "As Yüce’s hardcore realism shows us, love sometimes does not conquer all when individuals chose to become part of the herd."
When he meets Gül (Esme Madra), a Kurdish girl from eastern Turkey, Mertkan starts to become a bit more self-confident and it seems possible that he could break away from his oppressive parents. But Mertkan's domineering father opposes any association with "those people who only want to divide our country."
and including Samira Makhmalbaf
, stated in their award citaion for the film that it, "told its story with a Chekhovian charm; humorous, clear and haunting," which with "simplicity, tells a story that reveals the detailed anatomy of a particular kind of bullying masculinity and how it is passed down from father to son," and cited lead actor, Bartu Küçükçağlayan, "for his strikingly unconventional portrayal of an uninspiring young man… achieved with remarkable detail and conviction."
Today's Zaman
reviewer Emine Yıldırım introduces the film as, "a hard slap in the face -- a well-deserved and succinct one that reminds us of the macro social realities of Turkish society through the microcosm of one young man," and goes on to state that it, "doesn’t just showcase the dominance of a particular social class; it reflects how patriarchal misogyny is an integral part of our society." "Taking strength from his well-timed and realistic script, Yüce’s direction is almost flawless," the reviewer concludes that,"is one of the best Turkish films of the year. With its impeccable narration and no-nonsense style it exposes a harsh social reality that we prefer to dismiss -- it’s just always easier and more comfortable to be a part of the largest and strongest herd."
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...
directed by Seren Yüce, which tells the story of a middle class young man rebelling against his father's brutish authority while seeking a rough romance with a woman of ethnic minority. The film, which went on nationwide general release across Turkey on , won several Golden Orange awards at the 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and was premiered at the 67th Venice International Film Festival
67th Venice International Film Festival
The 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
, where it won the award for best debut film. Hürriyet Daily News reporter Vercihan Zilioğlu wrote that, "The director's moral tale draws on the example of today's Turkish youth and the timeless shadow of fathers over sons," and Today's Zaman
Today'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 Emine Yıldırım concludes that this is, "one of the rawest and truest stories from our society," and "As Yüce’s hardcore realism shows us, love sometimes does not conquer all when individuals chose to become part of the herd."
Synopsis
Mertkan (Bartu Küçükçağlayan) is a young man who has a stable but unfulfilling life in Istanbul, living at home with his parents, working as an errand boy in his father's construction company, hanging out with his friends in shopping malls and discos.When he meets Gül (Esme Madra), a Kurdish girl from eastern Turkey, Mertkan starts to become a bit more self-confident and it seems possible that he could break away from his oppressive parents. But Mertkan's domineering father opposes any association with "those people who only want to divide our country."
Festival screenings
- 67th Venice International Film Festival67th Venice International Film FestivalThe 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
(September 1-11, 2010) - 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (October 9-14, 2010)
- 12th Mumbai Film Festival (October 21-28, 2010)
- 16th London Turkish Film Festival16th London Turkish Film FestivalThe 16th London Turkish Film Festival is a film festival held in London, England which ran from November 4 to 18, 2010. During the course of the festival seventeen feature films and two programmes of shorts were presented at the Apollo Theatre and the Rio Cinema.The festival began with an opening...
(November 4-18, 2010) - 16th Festival on Wheels16th Festival on WheelsThe 16th Festival on Wheels was a film festival held in Ankara, Turkey from December 3 to 9, 2010; Artvin, Turkey from December 10 to 16, 2010; and Ordu, Turkey from December 17 to 19, 2010...
(December 9-19, 2010) - 23rd Premiers Plans European First Film Festival (January 21-30, 2011)
- 22nd Ankara International Film Festival 22nd Ankara International Film FestivalThe 22nd Ankara International Film Festival was a film festival held in Ankara, Turkey, which ran from March 17 to 27, 2011. Films were screened at Batı Movie Theater, Büyülü Fener Kızılay, Çankaya Municipality Contemporary Arts Center and the Goethe Institut Ankara, and the Street of Art events...
(March 17-27, 2011)
Awards
- 67th Venice International Film Festival67th Venice International Film FestivalThe 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
- Luigi de Laurentis Award for a Debut Film (won) - 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival National Film Competition
- Golden Orange Award for Best Film (won)
- Golden Orange Award for Best Director: Seren Yüce (won)
- Golden Orange Award for Best Actor: Bartu Küçükçağlayan (shared with Serkan Ercan for Toll BoothToll Booth (film)Toll Booth is a 2010 Turkish drama film directed by Tolga Karaçelik, which tells the story of a reclusive toll-booth attendant. The film was selected for the 47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival.- Production :...
)
- 12th Mumbai Film Festival International First Feature Film Competition
- Golden Gateway Award for Best Film (won)
- Silver Gateway Award for Best Actor: Bartu Küçükçağlayan (won)
- 23rd Premiers Plans European First Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize (Shared with Reverse Motion directed by Andrey Stempkovsky)
- 22nd Ankara International Film Festival 22nd Ankara International Film FestivalThe 22nd Ankara International Film Festival was a film festival held in Ankara, Turkey, which ran from March 17 to 27, 2011. Films were screened at Batı Movie Theater, Büyülü Fener Kızılay, Çankaya Municipality Contemporary Arts Center and the Goethe Institut Ankara, and the Street of Art events...
- Best Supporting Actor: Settar Tanrıöğen (also for Shadows and FacesShadows and FacesShadows and Faces is a 2010 Turkish drama film, written and directed by Turkish Cypriot director Derviş Zaim, which tells the story of a young girl who is separated from her father, a Karagöz shadow play master, during the beginning of the conflict between Turks and Greeks in Cyprus in 1963...
) - Most Promising New Actor: Bartu Küçükçağlayan (shared with Aram Dildar for PressPress (film)Press is a 2010 Turkish drama film directed by Sedat Yılmaz, which tells the story of tells the story of six employees at the Diyarbakır office of Turkey's first Kurdish language daily newspaper...
)
- Best Supporting Actor: Settar Tanrıöğen (also for Shadows and Faces
- 43rd SİYAD Awards43rd SİYAD AwardsThe 43rd SİYAD Awards , presented by the Turkish Film Critics Association , honored the best Turkish films of 2010 and took place on , at the Türker İnanoğlu Maslak Show Center in Istanbul, Turkey.-Best Film:...
(February 24, 2011)- Mahmut Tali Award for Best Script: Seren Yüce (won)
- Best Actor: Bartu Küçükçağlayan (won)
- Best Supporting Actres: Nihal Koldaş (won)
- Best Supporting Actor: Settar Tanrıöğen (won)
- 4th Yeşilçam Awards4th Yeşilçam AwardsThe 4th Yeşilçam Awards , presented by the Turkish Foundation of Cinema and Audiovisual Culture and Beyoğlu Municipality, honored the best Turkish films of 2010 and took place at the conclusion of the 4th Yeşilçam Week festival on , at the Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Hall in Istanbul,...
(March 28, 2011)- Best Film (won)
- Best Screenplay: Seren Yüce (won)
- Turkcell First Film Award (won)
Reviews
The all-female 12th Mumbai Film Festival Jury, chaired by Jane CampionJane Campion
Jane Campion is a filmmaker and screenwriter. She is one of the most internationally successful New Zealand directors, although most of her work has been made in or financed by other countries, principally Australia – where she now lives – and the United States...
and including Samira Makhmalbaf
Samira Makhmalbaf
Samira Makhmalbaf is an internationally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker and script writer. She is the daughter of Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the film director and writer. Samira Makhmalbaf belongs to the New Wave movement within Iranian cinema...
, stated in their award citaion for the film that it, "told its story with a Chekhovian charm; humorous, clear and haunting," which with "simplicity, tells a story that reveals the detailed anatomy of a particular kind of bullying masculinity and how it is passed down from father to son," and cited lead actor, Bartu Küçükçağlayan, "for his strikingly unconventional portrayal of an uninspiring young man… achieved with remarkable detail and conviction."
Today's Zaman
Today'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 Emine Yıldırım introduces the film as, "a hard slap in the face -- a well-deserved and succinct one that reminds us of the macro social realities of Turkish society through the microcosm of one young man," and goes on to state that it, "doesn’t just showcase the dominance of a particular social class; it reflects how patriarchal misogyny is an integral part of our society." "Taking strength from his well-timed and realistic script, Yüce’s direction is almost flawless," the reviewer concludes that,"is one of the best Turkish films of the year. With its impeccable narration and no-nonsense style it exposes a harsh social reality that we prefer to dismiss -- it’s just always easier and more comfortable to be a part of the largest and strongest herd."