Cinemania

ARABESK

• Directors: Ertem Eğilmez, Ferdi Eğilmez
• TURKEY / 1988 / HDD / Colour / 94´ / Turkish; English s.t.

• Screenplay: Gani Müjde
• Director of Photography: Aytekin Çakmakçı
• Music: Atilla Özdemiroğlu, Aysel Gürel
• Cast: Şener Şen, Müjde Ar, Necati Bilgiç, Üstün Asutay, Tarık Papuçcuoğlu, Kadir Savun, Orhan Çağman, Rasim Öztekin, Doğu Erkan, Uğur Yücel
• Producer: Ferit Eğilmez, Türker İnanoğlu, Nahit Ataman
• Production Co.: Erler Film, Arzu Film
• World Sales: Arzu Film

Late 1980s... Following such films as Banker Bilo, Hababam Sınıfı Güle Güle, Şekerpare, and Milyarder, Ertem Eğilmez, known for his comedic work many of which has attained cult status, made Arabesk in 1988. The film was released at a time marking the end of a “breaking point” in Turkish history. It uncompromisingly lampooned the era of Arabesque music, shattering box office records, and its legacy living on in popular culture where many of its lines are still recited decades later. Eğilmez, who was bedridden during the last months of the shooting, made a film of such historic significance that symbolises the cultural defeat of “suffering” through humour and serves as a praise of self-pity. It will be a unique experience to watch a restored copy of Arabesk on its 30th anniversary.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.