International

This is the title of the last Turkish film I have seen in theaters and I'm very very glad that I did.

Beynelmilel (lit.translation International)
This is one of those warm comedies that turn into melodrama towards the end but you can't help but be manipulated anyway becasue you have already invested lots of emotion in it.

We are at an East Anatolian town in the early 80's. The last military coup shook the country and everyone is trying to be on the good side of the army. In this town there are musicians earn money by playing at the weddings and arranging secret nightly entertainment of music and belly dancing - it is secret since there is a curfew and this type of activites are forbidden.

Unfortunately they are caught and the army thought of using them as an orchestra to play at the funerals and more importantly at the welcoming party of the top Military Council who are visiting in a couple of months.

The daughter of the chief musician is a girl just out of high school, dreams of winning the university exam, she is also head over heels in love with the younger brother of the owner of the photography shop. This guy is communist who is against the junta and since he is young and his blood is boiling, he wants to take action by protesting the Council's visit by playing "Entarnationale" the communist march at the welcome ceremony. Of course the girl is willing to help him.

This is a painful time for us Turks, I was a child then but I still remember many of the little things and how we were all affected. This films jogs a lot of memories and pulls us into this time period. All in all it has its faults but none in acting - a suprisingly solid cast without a weak link among them- with a cameo from one of the best liked folk singer/composers of the town, this film is recommended if you want to warm your heart.