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Istanbul Beneath My Wings
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Wikipedia article
'Istanbul Beneath My Wings' (Original Turkish title: 'stanbul Kanatlarmn Altnda') is a 1996 Turkish film, written and directed by Mustafa Altoklar. It is a dramatization of Hezarfen Ahmet elebi's reported flight across the Bosphorus from Galata.
Plot
The film takes place in the 17th century.[http://www.sinematurk.com/film/1021-istanbul-kanatlarimin-altinda stanbul Kanatlarmn Altnda] - "Fimin Konusu", Sinematrk, Access date: 14 June 2022 Hezarfen Ahmet elebi and Lagari Hasan elebi are researching bird flight.[https://en.kinorium.com/219623/ Istanbul Kanatlarimin Altinda (1996)] - "Plot", Kinorium, Access date: 14 June 2022 The new Sultan Murat IV resists the domination of his mother, the Valide Ksem Sultan and tries to enforce strict law and order in the empire. Meanwhile, a Venetian ship that has been captured by Algerian pirates is brought into Istanbul. One of those on the ship is a girl with a manuscript showing how to fly, the latter of which comes into Hezarfen's possession. However, this manuscript can't be deciphered by anyone.
Hezarfen and Hasan are caught examining a dead body (which is against the law) and sent to be executed.[https://www.tsa.org.tr/tr/film/filmgoster/2038/istanbul-kanatlarimin-altinda stanbul Kanatlarmn Altnda], TSA, 05 December 2017 At the intervention of the Sultan, they are sent for a court trial.
Hasan tries to justify the research and experiments by claiming that they could be used as a weapon to defeat the enemies of the Ottomans. Murat forbids experiments on dead human bodies but gives his blessing to the duo's research on flying, hoping for a new army of flying soldiers that could get past ground level barriers like walls and the sea, and drop bombs. To go about their task, Hezarfen and Hasan tell Murat of the undecipherable script and ask him to release the girl from the dungeon.
The script belongs to Leonardo da Vinci and they realise that he too had the same idea of flying with wings,[https://www.worldcat.org/title/istanbul-kanatlarmn-altnda-bir-mustafa-altoklar-filmi/oclc/1081049713?referer=di&ht=edition stanbul Kanatlarmn Altnda : bir Mustafa Altoklar filmi] - "Abstract", Worldcat, Access date: 14 June 2022 but the text is coded so they are unable to read it. Hezarfan and the girl (whose name turns out to be Franceska)[https://www.filmoria.co.uk/movie-list/%C4%B0stanbul-kanatlar%C4%B1m%C4%B1n-alt%C4%B1nda-mv0103790 stanbul Kanatlarmn Altnda], Filmoria, Access date: 14 June 2022 fall in love. After witnessing some fireworks, Hasan tries experimenting with rockets and during a grand launch, manages to reach a reasonable altitude before bailing out and landing in the water below. When some drinks are accidentally spilt on the manuscript, the coded text becomes visible and Hezarfen uses his own ideas and that of Da Vinci's to build a flying machine consisting of artificial wings. The conservative eyh-l slam who is against Hezarfen tries to turn the Sultan against him. He succeeds when the Sultan bans Hezarfen from flying and orders his arrest. Hezarfen (with Franceska) manages to escape with the help of Evliya elebi to the Maiden's Tower and launches his flying machine across the Bosporus.
Cast
* Ege Aydan as Hezarfen Ahmet elebi
* Okan Baylgen as Lagari Hasan elebi
* Beatriz Rico as Franceska
* Burak Sergen as Sultan Murat IV
* Sava Ay as Bekri Mustafa
* Zuhal Olcay as Ksem Sultan
* Haluk Bilginer as Evliya elebi
* Tuncel Kurtiz as Topal Recep Paa
* Giovanni Scognamillo as Antonio Aa
* Ayton Sert as Hekimba
* Berke Hrcan as Musa elebi
* Nazan Kesal as Fahie
* Altan Gnbay as Meyhaneci Agop
* Akasya Asltrkmen as Leyla Hazer
* Cneyt alkur as eyh-l slam
Awards
Burak Sergen was awarded "Most Promising New Actor" at the 8th Ankara Film Festival. The film also won awards for "Best Music" (Tuluyhan Uurlu) and "Best Cinematography" (Uur bak) at the 18th SYAD awards.
Bibliography
* Trker nanolu, 5555 Afile Trk Sinemas. stanbul: Kabalc, 2004.
* Agh zg, Ansiklopedik Trk Filmleri Szl. stanbul: Horizon International Yaynlar, 2012.
* Agh zg, Trk Filmleri Szl 1917-2009. stanbul: T. C. Kltr ve Turizm Bakanl ve SESAM, 2009.
* Deniz Yavuz, Trkiye Sinemasnn 22 Yl (1990-2011). stanbul: Antrakt Sinema Kitapl, 2013.
References
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