International / Beynelmilel
2006, 35 mm, Color (16th Festival on Wheels)
Director(s)
Muharrem Gülmez, Sırrı Süreyya Önder
Country(s)
Türkiye
Genre(s)
Other
Script
Sırrı Süreyya Önder,
Photography
Gökhan Atılmış
Editing
Engin Öztürk
Music
Kalan Müzik, Aytekin G. Aktaş, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Tolga Kılıç
Animation
Cast
Cezmi Baskın, Özgü Namal, Umut Kurt, Bahri Beyat, Meral Okay, Nazmi Kırık
Production
BKM Film, Nazife Cantürk, Ebulula Mardin Caddesi, Maya Meridyen Plaza No:16 Kat:3 D:12 34335 Akatlar Istanbul T +90 212 352 1818 | ncanturk@bkmonline.net | www.beynelmilel.net
Distribution
Awards
Best Film, Best Script Ankara Special Jury Award, Best Actress Istanbul Public Jury Best Film Award Thessaloniki Best Actor Pune
Plot
The 12 September 1980 military coup and its aftermath mark an episode in recent history that
Turkey has never fully addressed: the constitution of 1982 remains in force and the perpetrators
have yet to face justice. More recently, however, the coup has come under renewed scrutiny
through cinema in films such as My Father and Son and Home Coming. A further example of this
drift towards re-examining the past is International, which alludes to the direct and indirect effects
of the coup through the tragicomic story of violinist Abuzer, his daughter Gülendam and young
revolutionist Haydar, who live in Adıyaman. While street musicians, the gevende are banned
from performing following the coup- like many other activities- the regional commanding officer
assigns Abuzer and his band to form a ‘regular band’ . Abuzer hears Gülendam listening secretly
to the Internationale which she has borrowed from her lover, the young revolutionist Haydar,
and, inspired by the melody, he composes a march that his friends practise in preparation for
the ceremony to welcome the generals. This innocent venture will be the cause of many people’s
suffering. International weawes its plot around a diversity of characters and stories, combining
both drama and elements of comedy.
Berke Göl