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Ateten Gmlek
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Wikipedia article
'Ateten Gmlek' ('The Daughter of Smyrna' or 'The Shirt of Flame') is a 1923 black-and-white Turkish drama film, co-produced by Kemal Seden and akir Seden, written and directed by Muhsin Erturul based on a memoir of the same title (The Turkish Ordeal, published first in English) by Halide Edip Advar. The movie marks a milestone in the cinema of Turkey as for the first time ever Turkish Muslim actresses, namely Bedia Muvahhit and Neyyire Neyir, featured in a movie. It is in general about some events during the Turkish War of Independence (19191923). Its remake with the same title was released in 1950, directed by Vedat rfi Beng.
The movie was premiered on 23 April 1923, the third anniversary of Grand National Assembly of Turkey's foundation at Palas Sinema in Beyolu, Istanbul. It was shown to audience in two separate ticketed screens.
Plot
The husband and the little son of Aye, featured by Bediha Muvahhit, are killed by Greek troops during the occupation of Izmir (19191922) after World War I (19141918). With the help of an Italian Levantine family, Aye, slightly wounded, goes to Istanbul, where she lives in the home of her paternal first cousin Peyami. There, she meets Major hsan, a friend of Peyami. The three takes part at protest rallies against the occupation of Izmir held at Sultanahmet Square. However, following the occupation of Istanbul by the Allied forces briefly after, she is forced to escape to Anatolia accompanied by Peyami. The two joins the military unit of the Turkish National Resistance led by Major hsan. Aye helps by nursing and Peyami becomes an officer subordinate to hsan. Both men, hsan and Peyami, fall in love with Aye. This love turns into a "shirt of fire" (Ateten Gmlek) for both. Aye, however, has a heart for hsan only. hsan gets wounded in action, and she treats him. Meanwhile, hsan promises to marry her after he enters Izmir as the first Turkish soldier. In order to draw Aye's attention, Peyami intends also to be the first soldier in Izmir. Peyami is killed in action soon after. Aye, hearing the bad news, runs to the front, but she is also killed by enemy shrapnel shell.
First Turkish Muslim actresses
The novel 'Ateten Gmlek' written by Halide Edip Advar (18841964), a women's rights activist, who actually participated in the Turkish War of Independence,
was first appeared as serial in the newspaper 'kdam' between 6 June and 11 August 1922 before it was published in book form. Since it became of great interest, its filming came into question.
In the Ottoman Empire, acting of Muslim women in movies was not allowed for reasons of religion. In all the movies, the woman roles were played by the Christian or Jewish women of minorities in Turkey. Advar stipulated that she would only permit her novel be filmed when the lead role is featured by a Turkish Muslim woman.
Muhsin Erturul (18921979) asked his friend Ahmet Refet Muvahhit whether his newly married wife Bedia Muvahhit (18971994) would be eligible for the lead role. She accepted to feature as Aye. For the supporting female role of Kezban in the movie, a newspaper advertisement was published. Only one woman, Mnire Eyp (19021943), applied. She played in the movie under the pseudonym Neyyire Neyir. She later married to Muhsin Erturul.
Cast
References
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