Yılmaz Güney

Directing

Yılmaz Güney

Born 1937-04-01 · Adana, Turkey

Yılmaz Güney was a Kurdish film director, scenarist, novelist, and actor. He quickly rose to prominence in the Turkish film industry. Many of his works were devoted to the plight of ordinary, working class people in Turkey. Güney won the Palme d'Or with the film 'Yol' he co-produced with Şerif Gören at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982. He was at constant odds with the Turkish government because of his portrayals of Kurdish culture, people and language in his movies.

Acting credits

Room 666 poster
6.6

During the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, Wim Wenders asked a number of global film directors to, one at a time, go into a hotel room, turn on the camera, and answer a simple question: "What is the future of cinema?"

Room 666

1985

Law of the Border poster
6.2

In Deliviran, a village near Urfa close to the Syrian border, Hidir’s chief is involved in smuggling and gets shot. Hidir tries to stay out of illegal activities but circumstances contrive to push him in the opposite direction until he accepts to take a herd of sheep across the border.

Law of the Border

1966

Kargacı Halil poster
10.0

The story of Halil, who, after his father’s murder, was supposed to take on the blood feud but instead chose to avoid it by wandering the mountains, only to be forced to take up arms as a result of unavoidable events.

Kargacı Halil

1968

Ballad of Exiles: Yılmaz Güney poster
NR

Having spent ten years of his life in prisons, Güney escaped from Isparta Semi-Open Prison in 1981 and went to Paris, where he would spend the last years of his life. The recognition Güney received as a filmmaker in France brought him the Palme D'or at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival for his film "The Road." The documentary builds a bridge between France and Turkey through Yılmaz Güney, tracing his footsteps in Paris, the filming process of "The Wall," the lives he influenced through his political struggle and cinema, and the stories of those who were forced to leave their country after September 12th, who came to France as immigrants, his friends and colleagues, and the life stories of exiled people whose paths somehow intersected with his during this journey.

Ballad of Exiles: Yılmaz Güney

2016

Live Target poster
6.5

An old mafia leader tries to quit his old bloody past after getting out of jail but his rivals don't let him realize his plan. Asim Mavzer, played by Yilmaz Guney has to take the revenge for his daughter.

Live Target

1970

Hope poster
7.4

After losing one of his horses in an accident, an illiterate horse cab driver sets out into the desert in a quest for a mythical lost treasure.

Hope

1970

Kovboy Ali poster
7.0

The story of a young man who, influenced by a movie he watched, aspires to become a cowboy.

Kovboy Ali

1966

İnce Cumali poster
5.5

No synopsis available yet.

İnce Cumali

1967

The Poor poster
6.0

The semi-melodramatic story of three poor friends who met in prison where have been sent to on various offenses. These three friends do not want to get out when they are released. What are Abuzer, Haci and Arap going to do when they will be out? They have no one, no jobs... Apart from Haci and Arap, everything will be the same for Abuzer, who doesn't know where to go. He will still be alone, starving on the streets of the big city.

The Poor

1975

Sayılı Kabadayılar poster
10.0

A whole gang of racketeers in Istanbul share their interests in the next amnesty proclamation, for Osman (Yilmaz Güney), lying in prison for murder, belongs to those who are expected to benefit from this amnesty law...

Sayılı Kabadayılar

1965

Öldürmek Hakkımdır poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Öldürmek Hakkımdır

1968

Friend poster
7.1

After betraying his social class, denying his peasant roots and fleeing his native village, Ahmed has become a successful businessman and has found a place in the sun among the bourgeoisie. Azem, his childhood friend, has followed a quite different way. refusing the rat race, he has remained close to people of humble origin. Politically committed, he aspires to be useful to his country and more particularly to the forsaken rural world. The two former friends meet again. Due to the influence of Azem, Ahmed gradually becomes aware that his life is a failure.

Friend

1974

Aslan Bey poster
NR

Aslan Bey infiltrates the headquarters disguised as a Russian lieutenant.

Aslan Bey

1968

Azrail Benim poster
10.0

A kind-hearted local tough, haunted by his reputation, struggles to reconcile his violent past with his desire to protect the vulnerable in his community.

Azrail Benim

1968

Pain poster
10.0

Ali grew up as an orphan in a village in Kapadokia and became one of Haceli´s henchmen who is the village´s mafia boss. On his orders Ali killed the young Avanos’ son Yasin and went to prison for 15 years. The film starts with Ali being released and returning to the village…

Pain

1971

The Legend of the Ugly King poster
7.0

Director Hüseyin Tabak explores the legacy of Yilmaz Güney — political dissident, convicted murderer, and visionary Kurdish filmmaker — who directed the 1982 Palme d'Or–winning Yol from inside prison and died in exile just two years later.

The Legend of the Ugly King

2017

Nuri the Flea poster
10.0

Pire Nuri has just been released from prison. However, as soon as he gets out, he gets involved in illegal activities again and ends up at the police station. But he somehow escapes punishment. Meanwhile, Hacıhüsrevli Melahat, a notorious pickpocket, comes to the neighborhood where Pire Nuri lives. Hearing this, Pire Nuri goes after Melahat to attract her to his side. However, this time, things don't go as planned. (Ayşe Pay)

Nuri the Flea

1968

Kuduz Recep poster
9.0

The film tells the story of a gang leader who helps in the national struggle. Paşa receives gold from foreign powers in order to neutralize the National Forces. Meanwhile, Captain Murat, gang leader Kuduz Recep, and his men raid Paşa's house. They seize all the gold and set off for Ankara. Kuduz Recep says he cannot continue on the journey because he was wounded in the raid. He takes the gold and flees with his men. Captain Murat pursues Kuduz Recep and his men. Hamza, one of Recep's men, takes advantage of Recep's injury, ties him up, and throws him into the river. He hides the gold and takes over as the leader of the gang. Captain Murat finds Recep in the river and they begin searching for Hamza together. Captain Murat is killed during a clash with Hamza's men. Meanwhile, Recep finds Hamza and takes the gold. He will then set off to transport the gold to Ankara.

Kuduz Recep

1967

Prangasız Mahkumlar poster
10.0

Yilmaz is released from prison, while trying to talk to the girl he loves, on the other hand, he embarks on a tough struggle against the order established by a landowner.

Prangasız Mahkumlar

1964

Dolandırıcılar Şahı poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Dolandırıcılar Şahı

1960

Balatlı Arif poster
8.0

Arif is a young man who lives with his family in Balat. He supports his family by working as his father's horse carriage driver. Gülşen, the long-time girlfriend of Arif, who is studying at medical school, waits for the day when school ends and they get married. However, Arif falls in love with Çiğdem, the daughter of a rich family, whom he met at school. Caught between two different lives, Arif is forced to make a choice.

Balatlı Arif

1967

Mor Defter poster
8.0

The film tells the story of how Suphi brings together the people around him in the imaginary world he has created. Suphi's girlfriend İffet dies in an accident. Feeling responsible for the accident, Suphi loses his sanity. He begins to construct a story in his mind. In the story, İffet is first killed. The autopsy reveals that İffet was killed using one of the methods that leave no trace. His brother-in-law, Professor İsmail Sami, directs suspicion toward Suphi. Suphi begins to uncover the truth behind the events with the help of Meryem, İsmail Sami's assistant. However, as Suphi himself begins to doubt the truth, the events take a complicated turn.

Mor Defter

1964

Krallar Kralı poster
6.0

It tells the story of how Murat's life changed when he was caught committing a robbery. While searching for a way out of his poverty, Murat gets involved in Yusuf and Sabri's robbery plans. They promise not to betray each other if they get caught. Murat is caught at the last moment. He takes all the blame and is sentenced to twenty years in prison. Yusuf and Sabri break their promise and do not visit Murat in prison. Murat spends years waiting for the day he will be released. During this time, Yusuf and Sabri invest the money they earned and become wealthy. When Murat is released, he demands a share not only of the money from the robbery but of everything they own. When Yusuf and Sabri refuse, a bitter struggle ensues between them.

Krallar Kralı

1965

This Land's Children poster
8.0

During the dark days of the war of independence, Kemal (Ali Ekdal) sneaks his way to deliver the secret letter to Ankara.

This Land's Children

1958

Behind the camera

Anxiety poster
5.3

The story of Cevher and his family and their daily struggles as seasonal workers in the cotton fields of Southern Turkey. Cevher depends on the family earnings from the fields to pay blood money for a murder one of his relatives committed. On the cotton fields, people also have to compete with machines, which are preferred to human workers. Eventually, the workers unite and go on strike.

Anxiety

1974

Anxiety poster
5.3

The story of Cevher and his family and their daily struggles as seasonal workers in the cotton fields of Southern Turkey. Cevher depends on the family earnings from the fields to pay blood money for a murder one of his relatives committed. On the cotton fields, people also have to compete with machines, which are preferred to human workers. Eventually, the workers unite and go on strike.

Anxiety

1974

Anxiety poster
5.3

The story of Cevher and his family and their daily struggles as seasonal workers in the cotton fields of Southern Turkey. Cevher depends on the family earnings from the fields to pay blood money for a murder one of his relatives committed. On the cotton fields, people also have to compete with machines, which are preferred to human workers. Eventually, the workers unite and go on strike.

Anxiety

1974

The Road poster
7.3

When five Kurdish prisoners are granted one week's home leave, they find to their dismay that they face continued oppression outside of prison from their families, the culture, and the government.

The Road

1982

The Road poster
7.3

When five Kurdish prisoners are granted one week's home leave, they find to their dismay that they face continued oppression outside of prison from their families, the culture, and the government.

The Road

1982

Yaban Gülü poster
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Yaban Gülü

1961

Law of the Border poster
6.2

In Deliviran, a village near Urfa close to the Syrian border, Hidir’s chief is involved in smuggling and gets shot. Hidir tries to stay out of illegal activities but circumstances contrive to push him in the opposite direction until he accepts to take a herd of sheep across the border.

Law of the Border

1966

Live Target poster
6.5

An old mafia leader tries to quit his old bloody past after getting out of jail but his rivals don't let him realize his plan. Asim Mavzer, played by Yilmaz Guney has to take the revenge for his daughter.

Live Target

1970

Live Target poster
6.5

An old mafia leader tries to quit his old bloody past after getting out of jail but his rivals don't let him realize his plan. Asim Mavzer, played by Yilmaz Guney has to take the revenge for his daughter.

Live Target

1970

Hope poster
7.4

After losing one of his horses in an accident, an illiterate horse cab driver sets out into the desert in a quest for a mythical lost treasure.

Hope

1970

Hope poster
7.4

After losing one of his horses in an accident, an illiterate horse cab driver sets out into the desert in a quest for a mythical lost treasure.

Hope

1970

Hope poster
7.4

After losing one of his horses in an accident, an illiterate horse cab driver sets out into the desert in a quest for a mythical lost treasure.

Hope

1970

Kovboy Ali poster
7.0

The story of a young man who, influenced by a movie he watched, aspires to become a cowboy.

Kovboy Ali

1966

The Poor poster
6.0

The semi-melodramatic story of three poor friends who met in prison where have been sent to on various offenses. These three friends do not want to get out when they are released. What are Abuzer, Haci and Arap going to do when they will be out? They have no one, no jobs... Apart from Haci and Arap, everything will be the same for Abuzer, who doesn't know where to go. He will still be alone, starving on the streets of the big city.

The Poor

1975

The Poor poster
6.0

The semi-melodramatic story of three poor friends who met in prison where have been sent to on various offenses. These three friends do not want to get out when they are released. What are Abuzer, Haci and Arap going to do when they will be out? They have no one, no jobs... Apart from Haci and Arap, everything will be the same for Abuzer, who doesn't know where to go. He will still be alone, starving on the streets of the big city.

The Poor

1975

The Poor poster
6.0

The semi-melodramatic story of three poor friends who met in prison where have been sent to on various offenses. These three friends do not want to get out when they are released. What are Abuzer, Haci and Arap going to do when they will be out? They have no one, no jobs... Apart from Haci and Arap, everything will be the same for Abuzer, who doesn't know where to go. He will still be alone, starving on the streets of the big city.

The Poor

1975

The Wall poster
7.2

Produced, written and directed by Yılmaz Güney within his own personal experiences of capital offense, he dedicates Duvar to male teenagers aged 13 to 19 living behind the bars under diabolical treatments. These teenagers get barbaric corporal punishments, injurious harrows, tortures and sexual abuses just for taking the responsibility of their destiny on a wrong turn.

The Wall

1983

The Wall poster
7.2

Produced, written and directed by Yılmaz Güney within his own personal experiences of capital offense, he dedicates Duvar to male teenagers aged 13 to 19 living behind the bars under diabolical treatments. These teenagers get barbaric corporal punishments, injurious harrows, tortures and sexual abuses just for taking the responsibility of their destiny on a wrong turn.

The Wall

1983

Friend poster
7.1

After betraying his social class, denying his peasant roots and fleeing his native village, Ahmed has become a successful businessman and has found a place in the sun among the bourgeoisie. Azem, his childhood friend, has followed a quite different way. refusing the rat race, he has remained close to people of humble origin. Politically committed, he aspires to be useful to his country and more particularly to the forsaken rural world. The two former friends meet again. Due to the influence of Azem, Ahmed gradually becomes aware that his life is a failure.

Friend

1974

Friend poster
7.1

After betraying his social class, denying his peasant roots and fleeing his native village, Ahmed has become a successful businessman and has found a place in the sun among the bourgeoisie. Azem, his childhood friend, has followed a quite different way. refusing the rat race, he has remained close to people of humble origin. Politically committed, he aspires to be useful to his country and more particularly to the forsaken rural world. The two former friends meet again. Due to the influence of Azem, Ahmed gradually becomes aware that his life is a failure.

Friend

1974

Friend poster
7.1

After betraying his social class, denying his peasant roots and fleeing his native village, Ahmed has become a successful businessman and has found a place in the sun among the bourgeoisie. Azem, his childhood friend, has followed a quite different way. refusing the rat race, he has remained close to people of humble origin. Politically committed, he aspires to be useful to his country and more particularly to the forsaken rural world. The two former friends meet again. Due to the influence of Azem, Ahmed gradually becomes aware that his life is a failure.

Friend

1974

Azrail Benim poster
10.0

A kind-hearted local tough, haunted by his reputation, struggles to reconcile his violent past with his desire to protect the vulnerable in his community.

Azrail Benim

1968

İzin poster
8.0

The story of four days spent by a hired killer who benefited from the amnesty law with a hired woman.

İzin

1975

Pain poster
10.0

Ali grew up as an orphan in a village in Kapadokia and became one of Haceli´s henchmen who is the village´s mafia boss. On his orders Ali killed the young Avanos’ son Yasin and went to prison for 15 years. The film starts with Ali being released and returning to the village…

Pain

1971