Don't Let Them Shoot the Kite

12/22/2024

A Masterpiece of Turkish Cinema In the pantheon of Turkish cinema, few films have touched me as deeply as Tunç Başaran's recently restored masterpiece, "Don't Let Them Shoot the Kite" (1989). While this gem may have flown under the radar internationally, it rightfully swept the Antalya Golden Orange awards, claiming prizes for best film, best actress (Nur Sürer for Inci), screenplay, cinematography, and a well-deserved special jury award for its remarkable 5-year-old star, Ozan Bilen (Baris). What makes this film particularly poignant is its foundation in reality. Screenwriter Feride Çiçekoglu drew from her own experiences of imprisonment during Turkey's post-military coup years of oppression, lending the narrative an authenticity that resonates through every frame. The story unfo