Archive of films Girl With the Red Scarf / Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalim

Turkey
1977, 90 min

Section: Ten Best Turkish Films
Year: 2004

Love-struck truck driver İlyas and young Asya fall for one another at first sight. İlyas snatches the pretty girl away from her traditional family and marries her. Samet, a son, is born to them but their joy is marred by the husband’s infidelity and alcoholism. The film is based on a fascinating love story by writer Chengiz Aytmatov.

Synopsis

A timeless classic about love and devotion which one can watch again and again. Atıf Yılmaz, adapting the story from famous Kirghiz writer Chhengiz Aytmatov’s novel, embroiders the screen with one of the most beautiful love stories ever. It is claimed that French poet Aragon described The Girl With the Red Scarf as the most beautiful love story in the world. We are first introduced to the world of a truck driver transporting sand for a dam construction: İlyas, his wife Asya and their son Samet. Asya and İlyas’ love, which could once have been the stuff of legends, is now threatened by jealousy, alcohol and infidelity. His weak character and problems at work lead İlyas to abandon Asya, even though he still loves her, and she is left alone with their child, hopeless. For days she awaits his return… Her encounter with Cemşit, whom her son will know as his father, and her affair with him, will change everything forever. İlyas reappears years later, demanding the return of his wife and child. His reappearance will trigger questions which have resided in the heart and mind of mankind; what is love? Who is the lover, the husband, the father… and which is more difficult, to return or to stay away? Türkan Şoray, Kadir İnanır and Ahmet Mekin give superb and balanced performances. The Girl With the Red Scarf is a film that sends a shiver through the viewer, with Cahit Berkay’s great music and Atıf Yılmaz’s distinguished touch pervading the entire film. We might add that the little boy Samet in The Girl With the Red Scarf was performed by Elif Inci, the daughter of the famous actor Bilal Inci; she later continued a stage career in subsequent years.

About the director

Atıf Yılmaz (b. 1926, Mersin) combined an interest in the arts with an education in the social sciences; alongside fine arts he also studied law at Istanbul University. He initially wrote film reviews, however, work as a screenwriter and assistant director gave him valuable experience behind the scenes. He made his first film The Bloody Cry (Kanli Feryat) in 1951. This was followed by a period of extreme diligence when he made around 120 films over a space of 50 years, an outstanding feat from today’s perspective. Atıf Yılmaz has always maintained a high standard and his work has won national and international awards, with films screened in retrospectives and at various international festivals. His 1977 film adaptation of Aytmatov’s novel The Girl With the Red Scarf (Selvi boylum, al yazmalim), however, is one of his masterpieces.

Contacts

Festival on Wheels - Ankara Cinema Association
Abay Kunanbay Cad 33/6, 06700, Ankara
Turkey
Tel: +90 312 466 3484
Fax: +90 312 466 4331
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.festivalonwheels.org

Yesilcam Filmcilik
Istiklal Cad. Bekar Sok No 12/1, Beyoglu, , Istanbul
Turkey
Tel: +90 212 252 7913
Fax: +90 212 249 8994

Alfa Film
Istiklal Cad. Halep Ishani No 140, Kat 5, Beyoglu, , Istanbul
Turkey
Tel: +90 212 243 6340
Fax: +90 212 245 3508
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Ten Best Turkish Films

Director:	Atif Yilmaz
Screenplay:	Ali Özgentürk podle románu Čingize Ajtmatova / based on a novel by Chengiz Aytmatov
Dir. of Photography:	Çetin Tunca
Music:	Cahit Berkay
Production:	Yeşilçam Filmcilik
Cast:	Türkan Şoray, Kadir İnanır, Ahmet Mekin, Nurhan Nur, Hülya Tuğlu
Contact:	Festival on Wheels - Ankara Cinema Association, Yesilcam Filmcilik, Alfa Film

Guests

Ahmet Boyacioglu

Festival Organizer, Film Director, Producer