Archive of films Way / Yol

Turkey / Switzerland
1982, 114 min

Section: Focus on Kurdish Film
Year: 2013

A journey undertaken by five detainees released on leave from the prison island of İmralı. The film was directed by Şerif Gören based on a script by Yılmaz Güney, who, from his prison cell, gave the director precise instructions about the shooting. After escaping from prison, Güney went into exile to edit the footage and add sound. The film won the Palme d’Or (ex aequo) at the 35th Cannes IFF.

Synopsis

A journey undertaken by five detainees released on leave from the prison island of İmralı. Ömer is a Kurd whose homeland is a battlefield. Seyit treks an arduous path through a snowy pass in order to punish his unfaithful wife Ziné. Mehmet is troubled by feelings of guilt for the death of his brother-in-law during a jewelry store robbery. Mevlüt would love to get closer to his fiancée but he is constantly being watched by her companions. Yusuf has lost his papers.… Turkey, having undergone a military coup in 1980, is depicted as a country in the grip of fear – police everywhere, children begging, and the harsh and varied landscape. And beyond the external oppression there are the merciless laws of traditional morality to contend with. The picture was directed by Şerif Gören based on a script by Yılmaz Güney, who, from his prison cell, gave the director precise instructions about the shooting. After escaping from prison, Güney went into exile to edit the footage and add sound. Its screening at the 35th Cannes IFF caused a sensation, and the film came away with the Palme d’Or (ex aequo with Costa-Gavras’ Missing) and the FIPRESCI Prize.

About the director

Şerif Gören (b. 1944, Xanthi, Greece) started out as an editor and assistant director. After Yılmaz Güney was imprisoned for the second time, Gören finished Worry (Endişe, 1974). He has directed 40 films, one of which, The Way (Yol, 1982), written by Güney, won the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Two of Gören’s movies have competed at the Karlovy Vary IFF: Remedy (Derman, 1983) and The Frogs (Kurbağlar, 1985). Yılmaz Güney (1937, Adana county, Turkey – 1984, Paris), born Yilmaz Hamitoğlu Pütün, started out as a prose writer. He then gained popularity acting the outlaw in movies. His film credits include roles in more than 100 films, 50 realized screenplays, and 17 directorial efforts. While in prison his work was completed or entirely directed by Temel Gürsu, Atif Yilmaz, Bilge Oglaç, Zeki Ökten, and Şerif Gören. His last directed work is the prison drama The Wall (Duvar / Le Mur), shot in France.

Contacts

DFK FILMS
P.O. Box 2910, CH-8021, Zürich
Switzerland
Tel: +41 79 400 7057
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.dfkfilms.com

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About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section:	Focus on Kurdish Film

Director:	Yılmaz Güney, Şerif Gören
Screenplay:	Yilmaz Güney
Dir. of Photography:	Erdoğan Engin
Music:	Sebastian Argol, Kendal
Editor:	Yilmaz Güney, Elisabeth Waelchli
Producer:	Donat Keusch, Eliane Stutterheim, Edi Hubschmid, Yilmaz Güney
Production:	Cactus Film, Güney Filmcilik A. Ş., Antenne 2
Cast:	Tarik Akan, Şerif Sezer, Halil Ergün, Necmettin Çobanoğlu, Hikmet Çelik, Tuncay Akça
Contact:	DFK FILMS

Guests

Donat Keusch

Producer