BALLAD OF EXILES
YILMAZ GUNEY
(Original title “La Ballade des Exiles”)
Directed by İlker Savaşkurt
Produced by Abbas Nokhasteh
Executive Producers; Mirage Illimite / Dominique Belloir & Openvizor
Logline
After the 1982 coup in Turkey, iconic film director escapes jail to France, his last work re-creating with
other exiles the prison lives they left behind.
Synopsis
The documentary sheds light on Yılmaz Güney's life as a script writer, director, author and actor who
established the foundation of Turkish political cinema and also on his projects which affected recent history, his
cinematic perspective and predominantly his last years spent in France. It relates the battle he fought both as a
strong political figure and a filmmaker during the dark period of coup d’état in the recent history of Turkey, from
the years he served jail time to the time of his escape in 1981 until his death in France. The documentary
portrays the shooting process of “Duvar”, which is the most significant part of his life in France, and also his
world by the help of the narrations provided by his close friends, family members and colleagues. Yılmaz
Güney, having spent ten years of his life in prison, was subjected to oppression by the military regime in the
aftermath of September 12 coup d’état like many other artists, writers, scholars and thinkers in Turkey. In 1981,
he escaped Isparta Semi-Open Prison and went to Paris, where he was going to spend the last years of his life.
Esteemed in France as a filmmaker, he won the Palme d’Or in the 1982 Cannes Film Festival with his movie
'Yol'. Although the period of his life when he lived in France represents a life of exile from his home country, it
also posed great importance with regard to his filmography. He shot 'Duvar' during this period, and also 'Sürü'
and 'Yol', which contributed to his reputation in the world cinema scene.
The documentary builds a bridge between France and Turkey by following Güney's trails in Paris, and
also portrays the shooting process of “Duvar”, Güney's political struggle and the lives Yılmaz Güney touched
with his political struggles and film career, also the life stories of those who were forced to leave their country in
the aftermath of September 12 coup d’état and met Yılmaz Güney during their years on exile.
The shooting of the documentary started in Istanbul and finished in Paris. It aims to shed light on Güney and his
years of exile, together with his colleagues Ayşe Emel Mesçi, Ali Berktay and Ahmet Ziyrek, who at the time
were living as fugitives in France, his close friend İsmail Yıldırım, a sculptor who was always by his side in his
revolutionary struggle, and Sema Kuray, the child actress of the movie “Duvar,” and many of his companions
who stayed in Paris and those who returned home, all about whom Güney stated “We don’t want to spend our
lives in foreign lands and be forced to sing songs of exile until we die.”
CAST & CREW
Reenactments for Yılmaz Güney – BARIŞ ATAY
Barış Atay is an actor in Turkish cinema and television industry. In 2015, he also directed a movie '' EKSİK ''
In 1981, he born in Germany and moved to Turkey then he lived until 1999 in Antakya. He started to study at
Biology Department in Çukurova University but due to his passion of theatre and talent he left the school and
moved to Istanbul. In Istanbul, he graduated from Yeditepe University Theatre Department.
He had a role for several television series includes ''Hacı'', ''Şöhret'' , ''Arka Sıradakiler'' and movies '' Eksik'',
''Güzel Günler Göreceğiz''
Narrator Voice – FUNDA ERYİĞİT
Funda Eryiğit is a Turkish cinema, television and theatre actress.
She born in Samsun. She entered Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relationships in Istanbul
University and she graduated from Istanbul University State Conservatory Theatre Department.
She has got the best actress award with her performance in ''SILENCE'' at ''18th Sadri Alışık Theatre and Cinema
Artists Awards'' also she has nominated as best actress at ''17th Afife Theatre Awards''.
Television Series: Karadayı, Eski Hikaye Uçurum, İstanbul'un Alıntıları, Canım Ailem
Cinema: Yok Artık!(2015), Limonata(2015), Ev(2009), İş Arıyoruz(2008)
Interviewers in order of appeareance
Ali Berktay
İsmail Yıldırım
Marin Karmitz
Donat F. Keusch
Patrick Blossier
Ayşe Emel Mesçi
Ahmet Zirek
François Kotlarski
Jean Marc Lebeaupin
Marie Helene Quinton
Jean-Pierre Colin
Sema Kuray
Betty Nocella
Director – Editor – Camera:
İlker Savaşkurt
Writer:
Mehmet Kala
Script Advisor:
Paul Hallam
Producer:
Abbas Nokhasteh
Executive Producers:
Mirage Illimite, Dominique Belloir &
Openvizor
Effects and Graphics:
Kazım Can Alparslan
Original Music:
Uğur Ateş
Production Assistants:
Morgane Vie
Lou Nicollet
Final Mix:
Karasinek Ses Tasarım
Meriç Erseçgen
Color Correction:
Online Editing:
Haluk Korkut Turaç
Film Standartları
Cem Taşkara
Can Gelendost
Directors Note:
When his cinematography and his personality are taken into consideration, Yılmaz Güney was a visionary and a
patriot with the heart and soul of a militant. He was a director, script writer, actor and literary figure that worked,
wrote and fought for revolution. Although it is disputable how far Turkey could reach in terms of
democratization since the times of his struggle, there are still people, both within and without his social circle,
hanging on to the same revolutionary ideals. Nowadays, when the notions of justice and equality are the hot
topic in Turkey, to commemorate and understand Yılmaz Güney seems to be all the more essential. The
documentary draws its purpose of production from this essentiality and, by drawing inspiration from this great
artist's inner world, it brings the audience closer to his art and struggles. Through his political work, Güney
aimed to fight against all kinds of lords, tyrants and lawmakers with the public beside him. As a universal
revolutionary, he is brought back to life on the lands that he died.
If we are to address Yılmaz Güney as an influential artist both in the Turkish and also the global cinema
scene, it is necessary to take into account Yılmaz Güney's character, his life full of difficulties, his political
stance as a man of the people and his influence in this country as a thinker. His enlightened views and fortitude
always encouraged his contemporaries and those who came after him to follow his trace. Examining his life in
detail means diving deep into his years in exile and also in prison, the coup d'état, the oppression and pain he
was subjected to and his never-ending hope. Each step taken towards that which is unknown about this powerful
public idol sheds light upon the realities of both the past and the present.
If we take into account that, in today's Turkey, the country is suffering from civilian tutelage, that the
public is completely disregarded by those in power, that the youth is being murdered out on the streets by the
state itself, that legislative, executive and judicial bodies are monopolized and that claiming your human rights is
addressed as a terrorist crime, it seems all the more important to hold Yılmaz Güney as an example together with
his art and his life as both a regular citizen and as a creative figure. The courage he upheld empowers today's
revolutionary artists and resisters.
Understanding Güney, who was the benchmark of realistic Turkish cinema, means also understanding
that art has great transformative power. As a filmmaker, Yılmaz Güney produced some of the most artistic works
to that date. His tone and style marked the beginning of a new genre in cinema and acting.
I believe that this project will help understand and recognize Güney and his contributions to the cultural
heritage of both Turkey and France. The comprehensive nature of this documentary that extends from Turkey to
France also enables us to make a socio-economic assessment regarding these two countries.
All in all, Yılmaz Güney's exile sheds light upon the journey of cinema and art in two countries and the
differences between the destiny of artistic expression in different geographies.
Director – İLKER SAVAŞKURT
İlker Savaşkurt is director, actor and musician. He studied Cinema&Television in Yeditepe University in
İstanbul.
In music industry he has worked bands such as Altar and UCK Grind.
Organised musical and cultural events all around Turkey.
He moved to USA in 2006.
After his return he continue his cinema carreer.
Work in projects with Sera Film Services for international adaptations of television shows.
He directed advertisements for Haylazz Production Company.
Meanwhile he continue on theatre carrier then after television series acting and cinema movies.
He acted as leading actor in two movies Film “The Movie” got several international awards and Qüfür got
special screening in Cannes.
In 2012 he met with Abbas Nokhasteh and joined his project in Sulukule Roman Volunteers Community.
Made documentary for Sulukule Hiphop Theatre and music videos.
In his short career he directed advertisements for television and worked in numerous movies.
He is co-founder of Tillah Productions and Amirler Film. Associate for Openvizor.
As he got a bound to Yılmaz Güney due to his grandfather, he dedicated himself to making documentary and a
movie about Yılmaz Güney which gonna direct him for a movie of his grandfather.
A movie that requested from Yilmaz Güney to his grandfather to write a script and Güney to direct it which
couldn’t happen due to their destiny. His documentary directs a way for a feature film about this story in close
future.
Producer – ABBAS NOKHASTEH
Abbas Nokhasteh is a curator, filmmaker and producer. He is founder/director of arts organisation
Openvizor, also founder/director at Paraa art and architecture practice in Dhaka, Bangladesh and director at
Studio 174 arts academy in Downtown Kingston, Jamaica.
Abbas Nokhasteh has produced and presented works and research and curated events at cultural and
academic institutions including The Serpentine Gallery; The Venice Biennale; The Victoria and Albert Museum;
Tate Britain; The British Library; The Barbican Centre; The Southbank Centre; The Whitechapel Gallery; The
New Museum, NYC; The Jewish Museum Berlin; Goldsmiths, University of London; Istanbul Biennial;
IDARTES, Museo Nacional de Colombia and Museo de Arte del Banco de la República, Colombia.
OPENVIZOR
Openvizor film and documentary projects include works in the United Kingdom, France, Turkey, Iraq,
Unites States, Romania, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Projects
include Perpetual Peace (2010), Norman me guía (2012), Mass-e-Bhat (2014), Chuck Norris vs Communism
(2015), Udita (2015), Hiwa K 'The Bell' (2015), Rickshaw Stories Havana (2016), Alejandro Jodorowsky's
'Endless Poetry' (2016), The Region (2016) and Rising Silence (2016).
Sales & International Press Contact
Abbas Nokhasteh
Openvizor
36 Melton Court
Onslow Crescent
London SW7 3JQ
United Kingdom
M: +447733115872
E: [email protected]
W: www.openvizor.com
Turkish Press Contact
Zeki Haşhaş
Tillah Production
Kuloğlu Mahallesi, Yadigar Sokak
Ağa Hamam Aparmanı 9/2
İstanbul
Turkey
M: +90 535 210 0094
E: [email protected]