Majority (film)

Majority

Turkish poster
Directed by Seren Yüce
Starring Bartu Küçükçaglayan
Settar Tanrıöğen
Nihal Koldas
Esme Madra
Music by Gökçe Akçelik
Cinematography Barış Biçer
Release dates
  • 9 September 2010 (Venice)
  • 15 October 2010 (Turkey)
Country Turkey
Language Turkish

Majority (Turkish: Çoğunluk) 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 October 15, 2010, 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."[1][2][3][4][5]

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."

Release

Festival screenings

Reception

Awards

Reviews

The all-female 12th Mumbai Film Festival Jury, chaired by Jane Campion and including Samira Makhmalbaf, stated in their award citation 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."[25]

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."[26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Seren Yüce’s debut feature to premiere in Venice". Today's Zaman. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  2. ↑ "Turkish film wins Lion of the Future Award at Venice". Hürriyet Daily News. 2010-09-12. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  3. ↑ Zilioğlu, Vercihan (2010-09-29). "Venice-winning Turkish film to compete at Golden Oranges". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  4. ↑ Yıdırım, Emine (2010-10-14). "At the Golden Orange, the show goes on in one way or another". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  5. ↑ Yıdırım, Emine (2010-12-30). "Big questions continue to dominate Turkish movie industry". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  6. ↑ "Favoritism charges follow Tarantino’s Venice awards". Today's Zaman. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  7. ↑ "Nine films by first-timers to vie for Golden Orange glory". Today's Zaman. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  8. ↑ "The Majority / Çogunluk". LTFF. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  9. ↑ "Irmak’s new film to open London Turkish film fest". Today's Zaman. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  10. ↑ "The Majority / Çogunluk". FoW. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  11. ↑ "Festival on Wheels announces high-profile competition lineup". Today's Zaman. 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  12. ↑ "Festival on Wheels hits the road for 16th edition". Today's Zaman. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  13. ↑ "Artvin welcomes Festival on Wheels". Today's Zaman. 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  14. ↑ "‘Çoğunluk’ wins jury prize at Premiers Plans festival". Today's Zaman. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  15. ↑ "Ankara counting down to 22nd film festival". Today's Zaman. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  16. ↑ "Ankara film festival offers assorted lineup in 22nd year". Today's Zaman. 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  17. ↑ "Zaim’s ‘Gölgeler ve Suretler’ big winner at Ankara film fest". Today's Zaman. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  18. ↑ "Young artists dominate awards at Golden Orange finale". Hürriyet Daily News. 2010-10-15. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  19. ↑ "‘The Majority’ dominates at Altın Portakal". Today's Zaman. 2010-10-16. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  20. ↑ "15 Turkish films nominated for 2010 SİYAD awards". Today's Zaman. 2011-01-29. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  21. ↑ "‘Kosmos,’ ‘Çoğunluk’ dominate 2010 SİYAD Awards". Today's Zaman. 2011-02-26. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  22. ↑ "Yüce's ‘Çoğunluk' leads race for fourth Yeşilçam Awards". Today's Zaman. 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  23. ↑ Hostettler, Deniz Desiree (2011-03-29). "Turkish cinema's Yeşilçam awards point to better future". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  24. ↑ "‘Çoğunluk,’ ‘Av Mevsimi’ share limelight at 4th Yeşilçam Awards". Today's Zaman. 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
  25. ↑ "Seren Yüce wins more awards for his debut ‘Çoğunluk’". Today's Zaman. 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  26. ↑ Yıldırım, Emine (2010-10-19). "Seren Yüce unveils the herds of patriarchy in Çoğunluk". Today's Zaman. Retrieved 2010-10-19.

External links