Istanbul Beneath My Wings

Mustafa Altıoklar's "Istanbul Beneath My Wings" opened a new era in the film industry in Turkey, as it proved that, if well done, Turkish films are able to capture a large audience. Among the actors in the film are Ege Aydan, Beatrice Rico, Okan Bayülgen, Haluk Bilginer, Zuhal Olcay and Savaş Ay. It is a Turkish-Spanish-Dutch production realized with the support of Euroimages. The film was watched by 500.000 people, which was a record for 1996. The original sound track, composed by Tuluyhan Uğurlu, was the first film sound track album released in Turkey and sold 65.000 copies. "Istanbul Beneath My Wings" initiated many debates in media and attracted huge public attention.

Credits:
Drama: 107'
Directed by Mustafa Altıoklar
Produced by Ustun Karabol
Production Manager: Kartal Tibet and Nida Karabol Akdeniz
Original music: Tuluyhan Ugurlu
Cinematography by: Ugur Icbak
Cast: Ege Aydan, Beatriz Rico, Okan Bayülgen, Haluk Bilginer, Savas Ay, Burak Sergen ve Zuhal Olcay
Production year and country: 1996, Turkey
Distribution: Umut Sanat

Synopsis:

This film is the story of the first man to fly. It was in the 17th Century during the reign of Murat IV, a period of ottoman history when there was much bloodshed that Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi flew from Europe to Asia over the Bosporus on wings of his own making. Istanbul beneath My Wings, using the story of this flight as a vehicle, describes the conflict between individual freedom and authority, between those who desire to make progress towards civilization and those in positions of authority who resist all innovation and development. Hezarfen has managed to get his hands on Leonardo da Vinci's drawings relating to human flight. In order to decode Leonardo's coded instructions, Hezarfen takes the owner of manuscript, an Italian slave girl, into his home. Nothing can stand in front of the universality of love and knowledge.