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■ Editor's note: At this year's Cannes Film Festival, Turkish director Nuri Bige Ceylon won the Cannes Palme d'Or for his film "Hibernation". His films seem out of step with the times, but they have more of a readable charm. His films are slightly obscure, but with more philosophical speculation and human torture. From his films, you can even read Chekhov's shadow.
Yes, he himself enshrined Chekhov as his own muse of inspiration, "it was Chekhov who taught me the attitude towards life". Today, we take you through "what you must know about Ceylon". About the source of his creation, about his photographs, and about some gossip about him...
◎ 17 things you must know about Ceylon
Translate, edit | missnnnonsense
Source: rear window (WeChat: ihouchuang)
1. In every work, Ceylon pays tribute to the famous writer Chekhov.
In a way, Chekhov was his muse, Ceylon said, "it was Chekhov who taught me the attitude towards life". His first film, The Town, was dedicated to Chekhov, while in Past Asia Minor and Hibernation, several of Chekhov's stories are quoted.
Hibernation was inspired by Chekhov's 5 short stories, but Ceylon made many changes to tell a completely different story. "I like to show vague stories from ordinary life that tell things about human nature, and so does Chekhov."
2) Actually, he should be called kale, not Ceylon.
In his name nuri bilge ceylan, the letter c pronounces j in Turkish instead of the S-sound we pronounce now.
3) He has been shortlisted for Cannes for five films before and has never returned empty-handed.
Among them, in 2003, "Far Away" won the 56th Cannes Grand Jury Prize; in 2006, "Seasons Suitable for Breakup" won the Competition Unit Award at the 59th Cannes Film Festival, "Three Monkeys" won the Best Director Award in the Main Competition Unit of the 61st Cannes Film Festival in 2008, and "Past Asia Minor" or the Jury Prize of the Main Competition Unit of the 64th Cannes Film Festival in 2011.
4. In the early days, his working partners were only family and friends.
In part, it stems from his shy personality, so much so that when filming "Far Away", the actor had to hold the reflector part-time.
(I would like to add this small editor.) As we all know, Ceylon has a wide range of hobbies, not only as a director, screenwriter, photographer, but also as an electrical engineer. The reason why he is so versatile is on the one hand because he doesn't like to be surrounded by a circle of people when shooting, and some things can be done by himself; on the other hand, he knows very well that sometimes there is no need for so many people, so before his team was too small to have two hands... ）
5. Ceylon's cousin Emin Toprak had been Ceylon's royal actor until his death at the age of 28.
Toprak had never acted before making a film in Ceylon, and "The Town" was his debut film. While working as an actor, Toprak worked in a ceramics factory. In 2002, just a few months before the premiere of Far Away in Cannes, Toprake died in a car accident. He had predicted that Far Away would be shortlisted for Cannes and promised his wife that they would be on a honeymoon together at Croisette Angle. Later, when Ceylon received the award at Cannes, he confessed that he did not know how to continue filming without Toprak.
6, despite no acting experience, Ceylon and his wife Ebru decided to star in his fourth work, "Seasons For Breakup", in which they played a pair of men and women who encountered an emotional crisis.
But don't worry, the two of them in real life are currently very affectionate and co-wrote the script of "Hibernation".
7) Some of Ceylon's early films were autobiographical.
"Small Town" is based on his and his sister's memories, and the film is filmed in his hometown. "May Blue Sky" is a sister story of "Small Town", about a man returning to town to shoot a movie about his family. Far Away is the story of an Istanbul cinematographer and director who gets angry when his country cousin visits.
8, in the end which of his films is the best, the critics have not been able to agree.
Poster of the far away movie.
Despite the widespread praise of Ceylon's films in the U.S. imperialist media, critics have been one-sided in praising Ceylon. But which one is the best, film critics have not yet reached an agreement. "Far Away" is groundbreaking; "Seasons For Breakups" presents a native state; "Once Upon a Time in Asia Minor" shows Ceylon's ambitions. (The original author finally chose "Far Away" as his personal favorite, and the editor said that "Hibernation" has not yet been seen and will not be evaluated.) ）
9) His first job was as a photographer.
Therefore, even critics who do not like Ceylon films have to admit that the visual presentation of Ceylon films is simply bunkered. In his early works, Ceylon served as a cameraman. As a photographer, he has held numerous photography exhibitions.
10) His favorite directors include Yasujiro Ozu, Andrei Tarkovsky, Antonioni, Robert Bresson and Ingmar Bergman.
It has to be said that his aesthetic is very ancient, and his works have been influenced by the above masters to some extent.
11, his film is actually not as strict (cui) as you think(mian).
Movie poster for Once Upon a Time in Asia Minor.
Although he is known for his serious work, there are often some strange humorous passages in his works. For example, the director in "May Blue Sky" tries to shoot the parents' attempted passage. The cold humor in Far Away is reminiscent of Jarmusch's early works. "Once Upon a Time in Asia Minor" invited a famous Turkish comedian to participate, saving a lot of satirical and authoritative passages, but the premise is that you must know Turkish, otherwise it is difficult to get their laughs. "Hibernation" also invited the famous Turkish comedian demet akbağ to participate.
12. Although Ceylon's personal style and juche ideas are consistent in his films, his style of work is still divided into several different stages.
Filmed in the Turkish countryside, "Small Town" and "May Blue Sky" show the power of redemption with gentle and gentle narratives; "Far Away" and "The Season of Time to Break Up" depict the cruel nature of contemporary human relations with restrained and prudent brushstrokes; "Three Monkeys" in which people commit adultery, betrayal, and even murder, close to the dramatic tension of opera. "The Past of Asia Minor" is his most poetic work, abstract, like a dream.
13, he does not like to use the soundtrack of movies.
With light music coming from the radio or people singing, Ceylon's films generally avoid the deliberate use of music and tend to present ambient sounds, such as the sound of the wind, such as birdsong.
14) Scenes of sexual violence in Ceylon films are the most disheveling scenes I have ever seen.
In "Seasons For Breakups", the male protagonist played by Ceylon himself runs to find an ex after breaking up with his current girlfriend. There is a scene in which the male protagonist is constantly rational and chaotic, running to the front, tearing the other party's clothes to prepare for a rain. The ex struggled desperately but only from. It's hard to tell if it's sexual violence, but as the film progresses, the uneasiness becomes more and more apparent, and you'll find that the protagonist is really raping. However, after a few shots, they actually chatted and drank happily together again! (I have to say that the original author has seen too little in the world...) ）
15) He is not a well-known director, although he often expresses his political views in public speeches.
In a recent Cannes speech, he dedicated his honor to the Turkish youth who lost their lives in the riots last year.
16, before "Hibernation", the characters in his films were silent.
Stills from the movie "Three Monkeys".
Characters in Ceylon films are often silent and silent. In Hibernation, this convention is broken, and large sections of dialogue in the film seem to indicate that Ceylon will enter a new level.
17 This is not the first time that a Turkish film has won the Palme d'Or.
Back in 1982, the controversial film Yol, directed by legendary director Yılmaz güney, not only won the Palme d'Or, but was also shortlisted for the top ten in Turkish film history. The film was banned in Turkey for many years, and Yumaz Gunney was killed in France. When Ceylon went to Cannes to receive the Grand Jury Prize for "Far Away", it paid tribute to its predecessors in the acceptance speech.
original by bilge ebiri
via vulture
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