Istanbul Films..

Today, the wheather is cloudy and dark.. That is it's time to watch some films..Firstly, you take some coffee or popcorn,than i will offer you different, interesting, romantic, dramatic films.. And as you know these are all about Istanbul..Please read on.. For today, i found 5 different films and documentary, i will keep on searching to find new films..

Ah Güzel İstanbul  (1966)

A trajic comedy about a girl who runs away from her rural village to Istanbul to become and
actress and an old drunkard street photographer.. 


I don't want to give full details about this film, maybe later i will anaylse just only this film..


Sadri Alisik and Ayla Algan are the 
cast of this film.

Anlat İstanbul (2005)

In this film you will watch the five different story of people who live in İstanbul.. You will see the modern story of old fairy tale.. Sindirella, A girl with a red hat..

The Accidental Spy (2001)

This action movie unfolds with the story of Bei, a salesman at a workout equipment store, who harbors dreams of adventures. It all starts when on one normal dull day, Bei follows his instincts to trail two suspicious looking men into an alley. When he realizes that these men are robbing a jewelry store, he jumps into action to foil their plans. Soon after Bei meets Liu, a private investigator who convinces Bei that he may be the long-lost son of a rich Korean businessman. In no time, Bei is on his way to fulfill his dreams of adventure and fortune travelling to Korea and even exotic Turkey. As Bei is drawn deeper into the game of cat and mouse, he realizes he has become the key to locating a lung cancer virus. With an assortment of characters fighting him along the way, will Bei succeed in finding the virus himself? 

source: imdb

Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul

Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul is a 2005 film/documentary directed by Fatih Akın. The film is a journey through the musicscene in modern Istanbul, Turkey as well as portraying its cultural life. It was screened out of competition at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.

It features German musician Alexander Hacke (member of Einstürzende Neubauten) as the narrator. Hacke and Akın travelled around Istanbul with a mobile recording studio and a microphone, assembling an inspired portrait of Turkish music — from arabesque to indie rockand rap.

Mission Istaanbul (2008)

A promising journalist Vikas Sagar (Zayed Khan) is offered a position to head a controversial news station in Istanbul by its owner Owais Husain (Sunil Shetty). With this offer comes the promise of money and many other perks that make this offer hard to refuse, especially since Vikas is currently going through a very painful divorce with his wife Anjali (Shriya Saran). After working for the channel that in turn changes his life, he decides to quit, however it is brought to his attention by a Turkish commando Rizwan Khan (Vivek Oberoi), that others who have quit had been killed for knowing too much. It becomes a battle - which will win, the sword or the pen? 

source: imdb

Don't forget Hagia Sophia..

Dear reader, if you come and visit Istanbul, you must go to Hagia Sophia.. Lets look at a brief history of Hagia Sophia..

Hagia Sophia stands on the site of an earlier basilican church erected by Constantius II in 360, some 30 years after Byzantium had become the capital of the Roman Empire. This church was burned in 404 and rebuilt by Theodosius II in 415, only to be again destroyed by fire in 532. The present structure, which is entirely fireproof, was built in 532-37 by Emperor Justinian from designs of his imperial architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus . As a result of severe earthquakes, the dome collapsed in 558, but it was rebuilt by 563 on a somewhat higher curve. With the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia became a mosque, and in subsequent years all the interior figure mosaics were obscured under coatings of plaster and painted ornament; most of the Christian symbols elsewhere were obliterated. The four slender minarets, which rise so strikingly at the outer corners of the structure, were added singly and at different times; the crescent supplanted the cross on the summit of the dome, and the altar and the pulpit were replaced by the customary Muslim furnishings.

This engraving of the Hagia Sophia was made in 1852 by the Fossati brothers, Swiss architects who carried out a major restoration of the mosque's interior.

Source: Aya Sofia Constantinople, London 1852, plate 25.

Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum at the Turkish Republic, Hagia Sophia has always been the precious of its time.

The mystical city Istanbul hosted many civilizations since centuries, of which Byzantium and Ottoman Empires were both the most famous ones. The city today carries the characteristics of these two different cultures and surely Hagia Sophia is a perfect synthesis where one can observe both Ottoman and Byzantium effects under one great dome.

If you want to learn much more information about Hagia Sophia please visit this website; http://www.hagiasophia.com/

Istanbul Poems..

There are lots of poem about Istanbul, because this city's excellences magnetize everybody. Expecially, poets feel this city much more than us.. They experience good and bad side of Istanbul, every part of their brain.. Lets look at their poems (I don't want to translate these poems in English because they get lose their denotations..)

      İstanbul’u Dinliyorum

İstanbul'u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı;
Önce hafiften bir rüzgar esiyor;
Yavaş yavaş sallanıyor
Yapraklar ağaçlarda;
Uzaklarda, çok uzaklarda
Sucuların hiç durmayan çıngırakları;
İstanbul’u dinliyorum gözlerim kapalı.
İstanbul’u dinliyorum gözlerim kapalı;
Kuşlar geçiyor derken
Yükseklerden, sürü sürü, çığlık çığlık;
Ağlar çekiliyor dalyanlarda;
Bir kadının suya değiyor ayakları;
İstanbul’u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı.
İstanbul’u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı;
Serin serin Kapalıçarşı,
Cıvıl cıvıl Mahmutpaşa
Güvercin dolu avlular,
Çekiç sesleri geliyor doklardan
Güzelim bahar rüzgarında ter kokuları;
İstanbul’u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı.
İstanbul’u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı
Başında eski alemlerin sarhoşluğu,
Loş kayıkhaneleriyle bir yalı
Dinmiş lodosların uğultusu içinde.
İstanbul’u dinliyorum gözlerim kapalı.
İstanbul’u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı;
Bir yosma geçiyor kaldırımdan.
Küfürler, şarkılar, türküler, laf atmalar.
Bir şey düşüyor elinden yere;
Bir gül olmalı.
İstanbul’u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı.
İstanbul’u dinliyorum, gözlerim kapalı;
Bir kuş çırpınıyor eteklerinde.
Alnın sıcak mı, değil mi bilmiyorum;
Dudakların ıslak mı değil mi, biliyorum;
Beyaz bir ay doğuyor fıstıkların arkasından
Kalbinin vuruşundan anlıyorum;
İstanbul’u dinliyorum.

Orhan Veli Kanık


Bir Başka Tepeden


Sana dün bir tepeden baktım aziz İstanbul!

Görmedim gezmediğim, sevmediğim hiçbir yer. 
Ömrüm oldukça gönül tahtına keyfince kurul! 
Sade bir semtini sevmek bile bir ömre değer.

Nice revnaklı şehirler görünür dünyada,
Lakin efsunlu güzellikleri sensin yaratan.
Yaşamıştır derim en hoş ve uzun rüyada
Sende çok yıl yaşayan, sende ölen, sende yatan.


Yahya Kemal Beyatlı


İstanbul


Evin içinde bir oda, odada İstanbul
Odanın içinde bir ayna, aynada İstanbul
Adam sigarasını yaktı, bir İstanbul dumanı
Kadın çantasını açtı, çantada İstanbul
Çocuk bir olta atmıştı denize, gördüm
Çekmeğe başladı, oltada İstanbul
Bu ne biçim su, bu nasıl şehir
Şişede İstanbul, masada İstanbul
Yürüsek yürüyor, dursak duruyor, şaşırdık
Bir yanda o, bir yanda ben, ortada İstanbul
İnsan bir kere sevmeye görsün, anladım
Nereye gidersen git, orada İstanbul.

Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan

İstanbul


Salkım salkım tan yelleri estiğind
Mavi patiskaları yırtan gemilerinle
Uzaktan seni düşünürüm İstanbul
Binbir direkli Halicinde akşam
Adalarında bahar
Süleymaniyende güneş
Hey sen güzelsin kavgamızın şehri
Ve uzaklardan seni düşündüğüm bugünlerde
Bakışlarımda akşam karanlığın
Kulaklarımda sesin İstanbul
Ve uzaklardan
Ve uzaklardan seni düşündüğüm bugünlerde
Sen şimdi haramilerin elindesin İstanbul
Plajlarında karaborsacılar
Yağlı gövdelerini kuma sermiştir.
Kürtajlı genç kızlar cilve yapar karşılarında
Balıkpazarında depoya kaçırılan fasulyanın
Meyvesini birlikte devşirirler
Sen şimdi haramilerin elindesin İstanbul
Et tereyağı şeker
Padişahın üç oğludur kenar mahallelerinde
Yumurta masalıyla büyütülür çocukların
Hürriyet yok
Ekmek yok
Hak yok
Kolların ardından bağlandı
Kesildi yolbaşların
Haramilerin gayrısına yaşamak yok
Almış dizginleri eline
Bir avuç vurguncu müteahhit toprak ağası
Onların kemik yalayan dostları
Onların sazı cazı villası doktoru dişçisi
Ve sen esnaf sen söyle sen memur sen entellektüel
Ve sen
Ve sen haktan bahseden Ortaköyün Cibalinin işçisi
Seni öldürürler
Seni sürerler
Buhranlar senin sırtından geçiştirilir
İpek şiltelerin istakozların
ve ahmak selameti için
Hakkında idam hükümleri verilir
Haktan bahseden namuslu insanları
Yağmurlu bir mart akşamı topladılar
Karanlık mahzenlerinde şehrin
Cellatlara gün doğdu
Kardeşlerin acısıyla yanan bir çift gözün vardır
Bir kalem yazın vardır
Dudaklarını yakan bir çift sözün vardır
Söylenmez
Haramiler kesmiş sokak başlarını
Polisin kırbacı celladın ipi spikerin çenesi baskı makinesi
Haramilerin elinde
Ve mahzenlerinde insanlar bekler
Gönüllerinde kavga gönüllerinde zafer
Bebeklerin hasreti içlerinde gömülü
Can yoldaşlar saklıdır mahzenlerinde
Boşuna çekilmedi bunca acılar İstanbul
Bulutların ardında damla damla sesler
Gülen çehreleri ve cesaretleriyle
Arkadaşlar çıktı karşıma
Dindi şakalarımın ağrısı
Bir kadın yoldaş tanırdım
Bir kardeş karısı
Hasta ciğerlerini taşıdığı çelimsiz kemikli omuzları
Ve hüzünlü çehresiyle bebelerini seyrederdi
Cellatlara emir verildiği gün haramilerin sarayında
Gebeliğin dokuzuncu ayında
Aç kurtların varoşlara saldırdığı
Tipili bir gece yarısı
Sırtında çok uzak bir köyden indirdi
Otuzbeş kiloluk sırrımızı
Zafer kanlı zafer kıpkırmızı
Boşuna çekilmedi bunca acılar İstanbul
Bekle bizi
Büyük ve sakin Süleymaniyenle bekle
Parklarınla köprülerinle kulelerinle meydanlarınla
Mavi denizlerine yaslanmış
Beyaz tahta masalı kahvelerinle bekle
Ve bir kuruşa Yenihayat satan
Tophanenin karanlık sokaklarında
Koyunkoyuna yatan
Kirli çocuklarınla bekle bizi
Bekle zafer şarkılarıyla caddelerinden geçişimizi
Bekle dinamiti tarihin
Bekle yumruklarımız
Haramilerin saltanıtını yıksın
Bekle o günler gelsin İstanbul bekle
Sen bize layıksın

Vedat Türkali

İstanbul Ağrısı kanatları parça parça bu ağustos geceleri yıldızlar kayarken şangur şungur ayaklarımın dibine dökülen sen eğer yine İstanbulsan yine kan köpüklü cehennem sarmaşıkları büyüteceğim pançak pançak şiirler tüküreceğim demek yine ben limandaki direkler ormanında bütün bandıralar ayaklanıyor kapı önlerinde boyunlarını bükmüş tek tek kafiyeler Yahudi sokaklarını aydınlatan Telaviv şarkıları mavi asfaltlara çökmüş diz bağlıyor eğer sen yine İstanbulsan kirli dudaklarını bulut bulut dudaklarıma uzatan Sirkeci Garında tren çığlıklarıyla bıçaklanıp intihar dumanları içindeki Haydarpaşadan Anadolu üstlerine bakıp bakıp ağlıyan sen eğer yine İstanbulsan aldanmıyorsam yakaları karanfilli ibneler eğer beni aldatmıyorsa kulaklarımdan kan fışkırıncaya kadar yine senin emrindeyim utanmasam gözlerimi damla damla kadehime damlatarak kendimi yani şu bildiğin Attila İlhanı zehirleyebilirim sonbahar karanlıkları tuttu tutacak Tarlabaşı pansiyonlarında bekarlar buğulanıyor imtihan çığlıkları yükseliyor üniversiteden Tophane İskelesinde diesel kamyonları sarhoş direksiyonlarının koynuna girmiş bıçkın şoförler uykusuz dalgalanıyor ulan İstanbul sen misin senin ellerin mi bu eller ulan bu gemiler senin gemilerin mi minarelerini kürdan gibi dişlerinin arasında liman liman götüren ulan bu mazut tüküren bu dövmeli gemiler senin mi akşamlar yassıldıkça neden böyle devleşiyorlar neden durmaksızın imdat kıvılcımları fışkırıyor antenlerinden neden peki İstanbul ya ben ya mısralarını dört renkli duvar afişleri gibi boy boy gümrük duvarlarına yapıştıran yolcu Abbas ya benim kahrım ya senin ağrın ağır kabaranlarınla uykularımı ezerek deliksiz yaşattığın çaresiz zehirler kusan çılgın bir yılan gibi burgu burgu içime boşalttığın o senin ağrın o senin eğer sen yine İstanbulsan yanılmıyorsam koltuğumun altında eski bir kitap diye götürmek istediğim Sicilyalı balıkçılara Marsilyalı dok işçilerine satır satır okumak istediğim sen eğer yine İstanbulsan eğer senin ağrınsa iğneli beşik gibi her tarafımda hissettiğim ulan yine sen kazandın İstanbul sen kazandın ben yenildim kulaklarımdan kan fışkırıncaya kadar yine emrindeyim ölsem yalnız kalsam cüzdanım kaybolsa parasız kalsam tenhalarda kalsam çarpılsam hiçbir gün hiçbir postacı kapımı çalmasa yanılmıyorsam sen eğer yine İstanbulsan senin ıslıklarınsa kulaklarıma saplanan bu ıslıklar gözbebeklerimde gezegenler gibi dönen yalnızlığımdan bir tekmede kapılarını kırıp çıktım demektir ulan bunu sen de bilirsin İstanbul kaç kere yazdım kimbilir kaç kere kirpiklerimiz kasaturalara dönmüş diken diken 1949 Eylülünde birader mırç ve ben sokaklarında mohikanlar gibi ateşler yaktık sana taptık ulan unuttun mu sana taptık Attila İlhan

Attempt # 3-4

Dear reader;


In last days, i tried to share some pratic information to you in English but today sometimes i will probably go on in Turkish. Because, i will share to you some poem about Istanbul, some films and anything like that.. I know you will be tolerant toward me..


Warm Regards..

Veni, vidi, vici..

Dear reader, on November we traveled Istanbul, Fener-Balat District as an activity of our Istanbul;Art. History and Culture class.. Later, we wrote a response paper and i haven't know this paper is good or not -because i haven't get feedback from our lecturer- i decided to share it in my blog.

                                                 BACK TO THE HISTORY

 When you come to Ayvansaray you will first notice the old buildings and you feel yourself like living times of old. I have been living in Istanbul but everytime i am very exciting to see these historical places.

Firstly, we went Blaherna Holy Spring. It looked like very peaceful place and the employee of the church informed us some important things about the holy spring. He said; in Byzantium, it was the holy spring of Blaherna Palace. Queen Pulcheria wanted to built church near this spring. Later on, two Byzantine had come to church with some clothes which was thought to be Mother Mary’s clothes. Thereby the church became more important. Before the conquest (1453), this church was on fire so the clothes burned, too. Then, this church had been built and the holy spring is in there. In addition, he tell us that, the water arise out of rock cliffs. I think it was pretty good and small church compared to others. The different thing is the holy spring and in my opinion, the most interesting thing is the epigraph which is in front of the spring. It is the ambigram and it says; “Not only wash your face, but alsowash your sin”.

Our second place was Kazasker Ivaz Efendi Mosque.But we couldn’t get in because it was closed. So that our teacher told us some information about the mosque. In the garden of the mosque there should be some big holes and tunnels, we couldn’t see. Maybe, this architecture had been built for church then demolished to built this mosque. Besides, it is near the Prison of Anemas’ remains.

Passing through the old Turkish houses, we came to Ferruh Kethuda Mosque. Imam of the mosque said that in the period of Suleiman, Ferruh Kethuda had wanted Sinan (the artchitect) to build a mosque. When we got in to the mosque, we saw some ceramics which are belong to Tekfur Palace. The intereting thing we noticed that, there was a sun clock at the back wall of the mosque.

After long walking, we arrived Bulgarian St. Stephen Church, also known as the Bulgarian Iron Church. When i heard our teacher, it is famous for being made of cast iron, i was shocked. Because the story is very interesting, The Bulgarians of the Ottoman Empire, used to pray at the churches of the Phanar Orthodox Patriarcy, but due to nationalistic movements, Bulgarians were allowed to build this church only 1 month. There were some iconastasis as all the churches, and the main difference is iron of course, it made me excited. But when came to the garden, i realized that watching Istanbul from there could be very magnificant.

When we walked through Phanar’s side streets and i saw a red castle, i supposed we arrived patriachate but i understood it was Phanar Greek Orthodox College. Getting into the school was very challenging but we succeed. Then a student told us some historical information about this school. It first established in 1454, but there was a fire. So the current school  building is located near the church of St. Georgh in Phanar in 1881. The bricks came from France. I was facinated with this red castle and i wonder how different will become student in there.

Our last stop was  Church of St. George. It is principal Greek Orthodox Cathedral stil use in Phanar since about 1600. It has been the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. I think it was very small church, particulary given its status in world Christanity, this however could be explained by the Islamic laws which all non-islamic buildings must be smaller than islamic buildings. In addition there were lots of iconastatis, the fragment of the pillar of flagellation on the South side of iconastatis which made me very excited.

Istanbul has got so many historical places and Phanar-Balat district is one of the oldest part i Istanbul. I wanted to travel this district because of the book named “Istanbul Hatırası” and i was glad to see there through our lecture. 

Mimar Sinan Code

“Mimar Sinan was the chief Ottoman architect and civil engineer for sultans Suleiman I, Selim II, and Murad III. He was responsible for the construction of more than three hundred major structures, and other more modest projects..”

When you read an encyclopedic  information about Sinan (the architect), you will probably read some things like above.. But i want to write something about Mimar Sinan as a citizen of Istanbul. When i go anywhere in Istanbul, i see one of more works of art which was done by him, unexceptionally.  That is to say, Istanbul is Sinan and Sinan is Istanbul. He had constructed this city again again, he signed his name every part of this area. Today now, lots of artitects haven’t achieved this success.

Lets come to our title, why i use this? I was only inspired by Da Vinci Code.. But when i wrote “Mimar Sinan Code” in search engine, i didn’t beleived in my eyes.Because there are lots of humours and conspiracy theory about Sinan’s artworks. And i decided no to write them on this blog J But i just say one thing, Sinan had known the 5th arithmetical operations.. Thought provoking..

Anyway, let’s look at two of famous works of art..

The Suleimanie Mosque:

The Suleimanie Mosque was built on the order of sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and constructed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan. The construction work began in 1550 and the mosque was finished in 1557.

The mosque is modeled in part on the style of a Byzantine basilica, particularly the Hagia Sophia, which was perhaps a conscious move on the part of the sultan to create a continuity and a symbolic connection with the city's past.

Ibrahim Pasha Palace

İbrahim Pasha Palace, which is claimed to be bigger and more magnificent than Topkapı Palace by the history has been the stage of many weddings, feasts and celebrations as well as rebellions and turmoil and called with the name of İbrahim Pasha(Grand Vizier) after the death of this person in 1536. It has been used by other grand viziers, and had functions such as barracks, embassy palace, register office, Janissary band house, sewing workshop and prison. And Mimar Sinan was constructed this famous palace.

There are lots of Sinan's masterpieces in Istanbul, but i showed you two of them. Dear reader, if you want to know other magnificant works of arts which was done by Sinan, i will offer to you a site "Respect to Sinan". In this site, a group (ÇEKÜL) did Respect to Sinan Project and they prepared a map which showed us, Sinan's artitecture in Istanbul and other places. You will find lots of photos, information, maps and guides. Here is the link; http://www.sinanasaygi.org

Warm Regards..

Where does the names of towns in Istanbul come from?

Aksaray: After the conquest of Constantinople, Ishak Pasa, one of the viziers of Fatih Mehmet Sultan brought people from Aksaray (near Konya) to settle down in this area and this part of the city is called Aksaray ever since.

Ahirkapi : Ahirkapi comes from the Sultan’s stable (Has Ahir) near one of the seven gates by the Marmara Sea.

Bagdat Caddesi: The area was named after the road used for eastern campaign during the Roman and Ottoman periods.

Baglarbasi :It is called Baglarbasi because this part of the city was famous for vineyards and orchards – once.

Bebek :It is believed that the name comes from the a commander knicknamed “Bebek” guarding the area.

Beyazit :This area was called Beyazit after Sultan Beyazit II built a “kulliye” (mosque complex).

Beyoglu :There are a few theories for this name. One of them is the Venecian prince residing in this area were called Beyoglu and it remained so. Another one is that the official way of addressing the Venecian ambassador was “Bey Oglu”. Either way, it’s got something to do with the Venecians in Istanbul. The original name is Pera which is still used since the Roman period.

Bakırköy:The old name of Bakirkoy “Makri Hori” during the Roman period. It was changed into “Makrikoy” after the conquest and finally it became “Bakirkoy” by the order of Atatürk.

Cemberlitas:Constantinus Forum was called “strapped stone” during the Ottoman Empire because of the metal circles around it.

Cengelkoy: It was called hook village because big anchors were build in this area.

Eminonu: The area was named after Customs Department (Gumruk Eminligi) and the payclerks, paymasters during the Ottoman period.

Ferikoy: The area was named after Madame Feri living during the reigns of Sultan Abdulmecid and Abdulaziz, whose husband was donated the land in this area.

Galata: Gala means “milk” in Greek. It is believed to be derived from this word refering the diary farms in this area. Another theory is that Galata means “path to the sea” in Italian, which could make more sense considering the Genoese hegemony in the area.

Kadikoy: Kadikoy was called “Chalcedon” due to chalcedon trade for ages until the conquest. Later on the town was called Kadikoy because of the first judge in the city.

Okmeydani : It was called arrow arena because there were stones used for training arcory.

Sisli : It is believed that the name was mutated from the Siscilerin Konagi (the mansion of the skewer), a family whose business was producing skews.

Saskinbakkal : The name comes from “confused” grocer who opened a grocer in Saskinbakkal, a modern and very busy neighbourhood today, when there was no settlement or population except for the people coming to swim.

Tahtakale:The name of this famous shopping area was mutated from “taht-el-kale” in Arabic. It means “crown of the fortress”.

Taksim: Taksim meaning shareout in Turkish is the place containing a reservoir from which water is distributed to various parts of a city.

Uskudar :The name was mutated from “Scutari” in Greek meaning military barracks.