“The homeland is not just a piece of land you can abandon and leave, my love”

We are celebrating the centennial of our Republic. Within the scope of the events related to our centennial, films about Atatürk undoubtedly hold great importance. In this context, two months after watching the first of the Atatürk films currently showing in theaters, when I received an invitation from Arın Saydam to watch the second one, I headed to the cinema with the same excitement. This time, I also had a large number of questions in my mind to ask the producer and the director. Beyond the content of the film, I would also ask them about the reactions to the first one, whether they were satisfied with the box office, and the reflections regarding its screenings around the world.   

With questions in my memory, paper tissues in my pocket, and a notebook and pen in my hand, I am at the cinema. The scenes regarding the Gallipoli Campaign, the emotional bond Mustafa Kemal Pasha established with the Mehmetçik (Turkish soldiers), his intellectual journey with his close friends, the disagreements he sometimes experienced with them, his conversations with Ali Fethi Okyar and Nuri Conker, his talks with Sultan Vahdettin, and his emotional relationship with Madam Corinne are all portrayed very well. When Corinne suggests to Atatürk that he go somewhere where there is no war, the response Atatürk gives both makes one cry and makes one think: “The homeland is not just a piece of land you can abandon and leave, my love”. 

There are other scenes that both make one cry and think. For example, while Mustafa Kemal Pasha describes the palace intrigues and Enver Pasha's efforts to hinder him, he says:

“The front remains so much safer compared to these palace corridors”. Following the defeat in the war, as the three Young Turk leaders Enver, Talat, and Cemal Pasha (this trio is also referred to as the triumvirate, troika, or the pashas in some books) leave Istanbul, Cemal Pasha calls out to Enver Pasha: “The homeland will not forget us”. Enver Pasha replies: “But will it forgive us?”. 

After watching the film, we dive into a deep conversation with the film's producers Saner Ayar and Hakan Karamahmutoğlu, director Mehmet Ada Öztekin, and lead actor Aras Bulut İynemli. I immediately list the questions on my mind.  

Saner Ayar is pleased that the film's box office has exceeded 1.2 million and predicts it will reach 2 million in the coming days. He believes that the film being shown on Fox TV, the high cost of cinema tickets, and the lingering effects of Covid-19, which have kept people away from cinemas, have affected the interest in the film's theatrical run. 

During the conversation, I learn that there is a strong boycott against the Atatürk film in the Arab world, that radicals in the Arab world are doing everything they can to prevent the film from being shown in cinemas and to stop people from watching it, organizing campaigns on social media, and even issuing threats. The jealousy, anger, and hostility of radicals in the Arab world toward Atatürk and the Republic of Turkey do not cease.  

Saner Ayar values the interest shown in the film by Turks in Europe and adds:

“It is not realistic to expect the world to know, recognize, and love Atatürk as much as we do. Moreover, we have not had a comprehensive, consistent strategy or communication policy to introduce Atatürk until now. Despite this, I am pleased with the interest from Western intellectuals, the public, and cinema lovers. The interest in Washington and Dubai was magnificent. However, there is a large segment of the world that does not like both Atatürk and the Turks. Because Atatürk is a leader whom the West could not calculate, foresee, or prevent. Atatürk's struggle against imperialism continues”

I ask Aras Bulut İynemli, who successfully portrays Atatürk, how he feels: “On the 100th anniversary of our Republic, I took on a very difficult and equally honorable burden. The reactions I receive make me think that I have done my job properly. I am happy and proud” he says. 

As for my commentary on the second Atatürk film: It was like the first one, it was very beautiful. Careful, attentive, and balanced…