Turkish film gathers raving reviews in Pakistan

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - A Turkish film which delved into the relationship of a father and son was screened for the first time in the Pakistani capital on Friday.

The 2005 release 'My Father and My Son' directed by Cagan Irmak is set in the early 1980s, a period of military rule in Turkey.

The protagonist Sadik (Fikret Kuskan) has been sent by his father to Istanbul to study agriculture engineering, so that he can manage his family farm in a village on the Aegean coast. Instead he opts to study journalism and takes part in university politics, against the will of his father.

The movie shows how Sadik loses his wife during childbirth. Later, Sadik is arrested by the military. His health deteriorates in custody.

After his release, Sadik takes his son Deniz (Ege Tanman) to his native village.

The movie screening was organized by the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad. It was attended by the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul, Pakistani officials and a large audience.

“This is very famous film in Turkey and very soon we are going to screen more Turkish films in Pakistan,” Yurdakul, told the audience.

Zahid Shah, a local university student, who attended the screening said: "I was moved. The movie shows how coups affect people, families and a country."

Amna Qureshi, also part of the audience, said Turkish movies would do good business in Pakistan if they are dubbed in Urdu.

"I would suggest everyone to watch it. I enjoyed it a lot," she said.