Turkish Cinema: Identity, Distance and Belonging

by Gönül Dönmez-Colin

Films often act as a prism that refracts the issues facing a nation, and Turkish cinema in particular serves to encapsulate the cultural and social turmoil of modern-day Turkey. Acclaimed film scholar Gönül Dönmez-Colin examines here the way that national cinema reveals the Turkish quest for a modern identity.
Marked by continually shifting ethnic demographics, politics, and geographic borders, Turkish society struggles to reconcile modern attitudes with traditional morals and centuries-old customs. Dönmez-Colin examines how contemporary Turkish filmmakers address this struggle in their cinematic works, positing that their films revolve around ideas of migration and exile, and give voice to previously subsumed “denied identities” such as that of the Kurds. Turkish Cinema also crucially examines how these films confront taboo subjects such as homosexuality, incest, and honor killings, issues that have only become viable subjects of discussion in the new generation of Turkish citizens.
A deftly written and thought-provoking study, Turkish Cinema will be invaluable for scholars of Middle East studies and cinephiles alike.
 

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2008

Reviews

[Abdullah Başaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather good start to Turkish cinema. In particular, what Donmez-Colin's saying about the identity of Turkish cinema should be read as Introduction to Turkey. Moreover, it must be lectured as so-called 101: Introduction to Turkey in every Turkish university's first year program.

Anyway. My point is why the book doesn't deserve 5-star. To be frank, that's so simple. While Donmez-Colin talks about that loads of accomplished directors in Turkey emerged in recent years, she does not Mention Reha Erdem and his films, except his two films as simple examples. A Ay (1989, 'Oh, Moon!'), for instance, has never mentioned in the book, though the film was appraised by leading critics as an early example of New Turkish Cinema.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I wrote my dissertation on the representation of rural women in Turkish cinema in 2009.
I couldn't obtain much material in English at the time but Gonul Donmez-Colin seemed to be my saviour and provided this book alongside other materials touching upon other subjects that I was able to research from.
It is an intriguing subject and one that is an accurate reflection of Turkish life onto the screen.
I recommend this book for research for writing, for filmmaking and also just out of curiosity.

[Margaret Carmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this for an undergrad level Turkish film course. While this is a book I probably won't look at again, it's very informative and covers a huge variety of topics and films.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gönül Dönmez-Colin writes a collection of essays about prevalent social themes of identity, distance, and belonging in Turkish Cinema (1896-circa 2008) for English language audiences who cannot read scholarship available in Turkish. This book includes many black-and-white film stills in each chapter and there are helpful bibliographic resources at the book's end. The author synthesizes academic scholarship (in English, French, and Turkish), contemporary critical film reviews, and her own film interpretations. In six chapters, the author describes general film trends including identity, migration, minority groups, gender & sexuality, and modernity. While readers already familiar with Turkish cinema (or history) might criticize the survey approach for not including their own personally-valued nuance issues or readers unfamiliar with film studies (or general 20th century Turkish history) might be overwhelmed by new social history to navigate, other readers familiar with film studies scholarship and 20th century Turkey should find this book to be a helpful introduction to some enduring, observable social themes in this growing body of art and significant social issues relatable to global (and many national) cinema.