ANKARA - Anadolu Agency
Turkish Sufi and poet Yunus
Emre’s life is being adapted to the silver screen by director Kürşat
Kızbaz, who previously made a film about Rumi that received big interest
around the world. The film will be released in January 2014 with the
title ‘Yunus Emre - the Sound of Love’
The film on the life of Yunus Emre is being shot in 15
different Turkish cities to show the richness of the Anatolian land.
A new film will focus on the life of Turkish poet and Sufi Yunus
Emre, who made a great contribution to the formation of culture and
civilization in Anatolia. The film titled “Yunus Emre – Aşkın Sesi”
(Yunus Emre – the Sound of Love) tells of Yunus Emre’s adventure in
pursuit of “love.”
Speaking to Anatolia Agency, director of the
film Kürşat Kızbaz said that he previously shot the film “Mevlana -
Aşkın Dansı” (Rumi – The Dance of Love) and it was screened in 65
countries.
He said this time he was working on a film reflecting
the love and peace philosophy of the intellectual Yunus Emre, adding
that the preparation and shooting process of the film took more than
three years.
Kızbaz said that the film was set to be released in
the first month of 2014, adding, “This special project brings together
many renowned names. Yunus Emre is played by Devrim Erin, the star of
the highest-budget movie of the Turkish cinema history, ‘Fetih 1453’. A
very special and experienced team of actors collaborated with him in the
film. We will present the unique story of Yunus Emre to audiences on
Jan. 10.”
Artists including Burak Sergen, Altan Erkekli, Altan
Gördüm, Ahmet Mekin, Bülent Emin Yarar, Sinan Albayrak, Suna Selen,
Nesimi Kaygusuz, Tamer Levent and Nilay Cafer are taking on roles in the
film, said Kızbaz. “These names will appear as historical characters
like Rumi, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, Tapduk Emre etc.”
War scenes shot in Van Kızbaz
said they had set up a big place in the eastern province of Van for the
Mongol war scenes, and added, “At the same time, we wanted to show all
the colors and richness of Anatolia by shooting the film in 15 cities
over four seasons.
“While depicting the life of Yunus Emre, who
had an impact on the life of millions of people with his love, tolerance
and peace philosophy, we received support from many institutions,
including the Culture and Tourism Ministry.”
Noting that making
such a film carried big responsibilities, Kızbaz said he was the
director, producer and scriptwriter of the film and had undertaken a big
responsibility in showing such a significant character to millions.
Since
they knew the difficulties of reflecting the life of such a mystic
character on the cinema screen, they had worked on the script and
shooting preparations for more than two years, according to Kızbaz. He
said they received invitations from many countries from
India to the United States.
The
film was shot in Kartepe, Nallıhan, Erciyes, Cappadocia and Hacıbektaş,
said Kızbaz, adding that people living in those regions showed them
great interest.
INFLUENCE ON LITERATURE
Yunus Emre, who lived between around 1240 and
1321, has an immense influence on Turkish literature, from his own day
until the present. Because he is one of the first known poets to have
composed works in the spoken Turkish of his own age and region rather
than in Persian or Arabic, his diction remains very close to the popular
speech of his contemporaries in Central and Western Anatolia. This is
also the language of a number of anonymous folk-poets, folk-songs, fairy
tales, riddles and proverbs. He remains a popular figure in a number of
countries from
Azerbaijan
to the Balkans with seven different and widely dispersed localities
disputing the privilege of having his tomb within their boundaries.
October/17/2013
