Fantastic Turks: Open Air Cinema at Istanbul Modern

11 - 13 July

Within the scope of YAP Istanbul Modern, the cinema department presents a selection of three films from Turkish Fantastic cinema. In the event, held in collaboration with Sinema TV, every evening a different fantastic Turkish film will be screened in the open-air cinema at Istanbul Modern’s courtyard.

Thursday 11 July, 21:30

Zagor Kara Bela, 1971

Black & White, 74’
Director: Nişan Hançer

Cast: Levent Çakır, Ece Cansel, Nevzat Açıkgöz

After the comic book Zagor was first published in Italy in 1961 it became popular around the world and reached the Turkish audience a year later. In 1971 Zagor’s adventures were adapted to Turkish cinema, and the main character Zagor, also known as “The Spirit with the Hatchet” who fights against all things evil, was played by Levent Çakır. In this adventure, Zagor and his sidekick Chico, whom he calls “fatso”, go after a villain with a black mask who kills Indians. Kara Bela (Black Danger) is a half-crazy character who is seeking revenge for his assassinated family.

Friday 12 July, 21:30

Atını Seven Kovboy (The Man Who Loved his Horse), 1974

Color, 84’

Director: Aram Gülyüz

Cast: Sadri Alışık, Figen Han, Sami Hazinses

Sadri Alışık plays Lucky Luke who takes to the road with his talking horse Jolly Jumper. The film tells the funny and absurd story of Lucky Luke’s struggle with the Dalton Brothers, the legendary gang of outlaws. With its sets and costumes ‘The Man Who Loved his Horse’ is a good example of Turkish spaghetti westerns inspired by American westerns of that time.

Saturday 13 July, 21:30

Şeytan, 1974

Color, 100’

Director: Metin Erksan

Cast: Cihan Ünal, Canan Perver, Meral Taygun , Agah Hün

Directed by Metin Erksan, ‘Şeytan’ is one of the first examples of Turkish horror movies and a remake of the 1973 American film ‘The Exorcist’. When Gül, an unhappy 12-year-old girl whose parents are on the verge of a divorce, starts to behave in an inexplicable and strange way, a psychologist and a holy man try to understand what is wrong with her and find out that she is possessed by Satan. They attempt to exorcize the girl but the devil inside her resists with all its might.