The Songs of Nazım Hikmet
Original title: Nazim Hikmet Sarkilari
2000 - 1h 15m
Director: Mehmet Eryilmaz
Writers: Tarik Akan (consultant), Kiymet Coskun (consultant)
Cast: Rüstü Asyali, Müsfik Kenter, Nevzat Senol, Mine Yalin, Isik Yenersu
This documentary is a tribute to the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet (sometimes called the Pablo Neruda of Turkey) explores seven of the hundreds of songs based on his poetry. The songs are performed by famous Turkish singers and musicians such as Ruhi Su, Sümeyra, Zülfü Livaneli, Cem Karaca, Inci Çayirli, Esin Afsar and Timur Selçuk. The film conveys Nazim Hikmet’s distinct personality as well as his love for his country and people while remaining stylistically faithful to his work.
‘Watching (The Songs of Nazım Hikmet), I cried, I laughed, I embraced the crowds and I multiplied. I fell in love with Turkish, I joined in the songs... With those seven Nazim Hikmet songs, each performed by a different artist, the gates to the world parted before me... It was like a polyphonic symphony... It was, in a word, like my country.’
Zeynep Oral
Journalist-author