If anyone is ever interested in how Turkey compares to Bollywood or Hollywood, take a look at Nuri Ceylan. The man in my opinion is a genius. I had to study a few of his films in another class, and although I did not like them at first (he is notorious for his lack a dialogue), once you get into the film, you cannot tear yourself away from watching.
There is a concept in Turkish culture called huzun (with dots on the two u's). This means, roughly, melancholy in English. Although the world might not be used that often in English, it is the most accurate adjective for the "mood" of Turkish cinema and the overall atmosphere of Istanbul. It has a lot to do with their sense of loss (the fall of the Empire), but potentially even more to do with their loss with their own self. You see, there is a great struggle within Turkey today that has to do with not politics, economics, or religion - but the citizens themselves. They do not know who they are - European or Middle Eastern, Western or Eastern, Turk or Türk. It is a great debate that most artists today are trying to convey what they think composes the Turkey that we know of today.
Check out Ceylan's films, they're famous, filled with huzun, and they will definitely open you to that divide between East and West in Turkey...
Also, in Turkish cinema, you have a lot of different options for the types of movies that you can watch. Just like in the US, there are American-style comedic movies, but those are more for the sitcom TV scene. However, there are times when you might want to get a little "cultured" and watch films that take place in Van or Kars (Very Eastern/Rural style films) where the directors take you on beautiful scenic tours of their country and introduce to the harsh realities of village life.
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