Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Nuri Bilge Ceylan (b. 1959) is best known for his literary-cinematographic films. His films tell universal stories and are at the same time connected to recent Turkish history and its contrasts: of urban and rural, religious and infidel, wealthy and poor, male and female, and individualism and collectivism

In times of black-and-white thinking, Ceylan shows in a nuanced and humanistic way how our origins shape our character. Dialogues steeped in existential musings and slow shots of interiors and sweeping landscapes offer the viewer ample space to reflect on human existence. Landscapes play a crucial role in this. For Ceylan, they are not just background, but reflect and influence the inner world of his characters – be it bustling Istanbul or the vast plains of Anatolia.

Cover Image: Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Once Upon A Time in Anatolia (2011) (courtesy of Dirimart)