Istanbul Kanatlarimin Altinda (1996) Poster

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8/10
Historical Sci-Fi Epic of the 17th Century Europe
CihanVercan11 January 2009
With a cross-border cinematography; director Altioklar delivers us the Renaissance age of Europe in this film, the best age ever to live in Istanbul. It is the age that the Ottoman Empire was the ruler of the Mediterranean and the victor of the naval warfare against Russians, Italians, Venetians, Tuscanians and Genoans. Empires of this age, which are under regency and sultana rule, don't support scientific developments just as in the case of Russians sent Galilee to court because he believes that the world is round, as Italians prohibited the early work of Leonardo Da Vinci. Much like them Ottoman Sultan 4.Murat also prohibits the Turkish scientists researching onto the flight trials. The story doesn't deny what actually has happened in the history; but since the plot implies historical fantasy partially, there are a few logical and historical goofs. Yet the whole script treats of the life of a loony scientist. That's why this is a science fiction epic, it never annoys the viewer with too much historical concept.

Costumes and make-ups are perfect. Weaponry is so down to earth. The saints and scientists come together in joints and rum holes which are banned to be closed. Right at the first moment the script introduces the main characters to us, the 2 saints and 2 scientists spending their times together, we feel like we are one of them. I have never seen that perfect characterization in a historical movie ever. Though the script was so effective and binding with the plot, the sound and light quality is weak. There are some long lasting night scenes and involved conversations. I never wanted to miss a word to not to miss anything. The leading actor performing Hazerfan Ahmet Çelebi draws a lot of attention from the viewer, not just because he is lunatic but at the same time he is very wise and is a believer. Despite his friends laughing at his theories and the proscription on scientific researches, he doesn't give up. Then a miracle occurs, from a captured Italian ship he finds some worksheets from Leonardo Da Vinci with Da Vinci's codes on it. He buys an Italian slave and expects her to decode the worksheets to be able to understand the Gravity law, the Air pressure to fly with human-made wings. The story-telling takes our attention wisely and keeps us in astonishment how Hazerfan Ahmet Çelebi develops his researches step by step.

This is not a family movie, but should be watched personally or with somebody beloved. There are adult related materials. Be aware don't watch it to children. Try not to miss even a second, otherwise you won't be able to understand what is happening and why is happening. This film must not be classified as romance or history, those are just additional elements. "Istanbul Kanatlarimin Altinda"(means Istanbul Beneath My Wings) truly is an inspirational science fiction epic. Each time you watch it, you will find something new. Something funny, something sad; someone can believe it, someone can't.
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7/10
Entertaining nonsense
cgyford16 November 2009
Turkish filmmaker Mustafa Altioklar ("Ağır Roman" & "Beyza'nın Kadınları") followed his feature debut "Denize Hançer Düştü" with this curios retelling of the legendary tale of the Ottoman Turkish brothers Hezârfen Ahmed and Lagari Hasan Çelebi who according to a brief mention in the works of the notoriously unreliable Evliyâ Çelebi achieved the first manned glider and rocket flight respectively in the early 17th century.

The affable Ege Aydan puts in a fine performance as the eccentric polymath, with strong support from Okan Bayülgen as his apparently deranged brother, the gorgeous Beatriz Rico as his Italian love interest, Savas Ay as his drinking companion, Haluk Bilginer as the dubious narrator and a 1996 Ankara International Film Festival Best Supporting Actor winning turn from Burak Sergen as the Sultan.

The director has little to build on with these supposedly great historical events apparently only warranting a couple of lines in the travelogue of a single writer but many Turks still cling to them as gospel and here they are spun out into a cheap and cheerful epic of the inspired scientist pursuing a dream in defiance of the rulers that is sure to inspire the nation if not the cynical outsider.

There is a mystery other than all those solved so far.
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10/10
terrific movie
locknote14 June 2006
This film can be regarded as the resurrection of the Turkish film industry. you can find the feeling of being free against all forces that stand as obstacles to be an individual.After you see that movie, it is most possible to criticize you about why i am trying to get more things in this life if it has an end.Maybe, you can think deeply that my job is not what i am actually want to do and you can say that i could achieve many things if i have not cared the money so much.And LOVE does not need to talk, two people, Ahmet and Franchesco, who do not know the languages of each other show that LOVE does not need to talk. As far as the musics of the movie are concerned, They are excellent and they are effectively integrated to the scenes of the movie. I wanna say that Tuluyhan Ugurlu, composer of the musics, made these musics just for that movie. I advise everybody to see that film.
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Great movie with beautiful acting
Mortello29 May 2002
The director, Mustafa Altioklar, developed himself in the recent years by making extraordinary-to-Turkish-cinema movies and made a point of view to the life on these movies. When you see them, you'll find a very dark atmosphere, people suffering and rebellious, great fear, fury and vengeance which attract you in a mysterious way. The words that the characters speak take you to a chaotic world of a poem.

Istanbul Kanatlarimin Altnda is a typical Altioklar film that has all these properties making it attractive. And also glorious poetic acting by Ege Aydan, Okan Bayülgen, Burak Sergen and Haluk Bilginer make watching it a must. I strongly advise it.
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5/10
Movie From Good Old Modern Turkey
hantirboy20 January 2022
This movie wouldn't be made these days. Under the preassure of unnamed dictatorship which praising the Ottoman Empire without considering the truth; it is impossible to potray any Ottoman emperor like that. It is a very brave production and the fact that it cannot be made today is proof of how we are going through a dark period. However, as a movie, it's very dull. The acting is mediocre. Extras are painfully bad. Especially Okan Bayülgen acted so badly. Dialogues have been overly didactic and unrealistic. In places, there are sentences that really taste like a middle school show. There are textbook phrases such as "You were not only the first person to fly. You were also the first to fly from continent to continent.". For me it was hard to watch it at once.
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