Muhsin Bey

Colour, 35 mm
Turkey, 1987, 145 min
Section: Ten Best Turkish Films

Synopsis

Muhsin Bey can be seen as a social mirror which tragicomically reflects the transformation of Turkey during the 1980s. The film, describing the interaction between Muhsin Kanadıkırık and Ali Nazik, is structured around a clash of various life approaches. Muhsin Kanadıkırık has reached the autumn of life, whose principles have not allowed him to achieve much success, an upright music manager, a lover of traditional Turkish music. Ali Nazik is a youth from Urfa with a promising voice. The director focuses on inter-cultural conflict rather than inter-cultural dialogue, following the patterns of both old and modern Turkish cinema. Friendships, betrayal, love and unexpected events flow by as one would expect in a typical Turkish film, but the film also brings a new, more original narrative. The leading actors are the experienced Şener Şen and the young Uğur Yücel, who never seems to struggle against the powerful presence of his older co-star. With their unforgettable performances, and the film’s analysis of the winners and losers in society, Muhsin Bey wins its reputation as an affecting emotional-nostalgic comedy. It should be emphasized that Ali Nazik, who chooses the easy path to becoming famous fast, is the one Yavuz Turgul defines as the “loser”. The film assumes a documentary-like quality in its realistic treatment of the life of the historical Beyoğlu quarter, with its alleys, music halls, and talent competitions.  In this way, the film is a prime example of a succesful depiction of the relationship between the characters and their environment. Muhsin Bey is like a traditional song... about Beyoğlu, the music industry, ingratitude and conscience.  

About the director

Yavuz Turgul (b. 1946, Istanbul) graduated from the Institute of Journalism, Istanbul University. He worked as a journalist for six years, then began writing scripts. In 1982 he won Best Screenplay for Abbas with Flower (Çiçek Abbas), a success which lured him towards film direction. He debuted as a director two years later. Turgul’s most successful film is Muhsin Bey, a compelling nostalgic comedy which won an award at the Antalya Film Festival in 1987. In 1988 he won the Special Jury Prize for the same film at the Istanbul International Film Days competition, and it also won the Special Jury Prize at San Sebastian. He directed Bandit (Eskiya) in 1996, a great commercial success in Turkey.