Writer: Yusuf Kurçenli
Stars:Tuba Büyüküstün, Kenan Ece and Hakan Eratik
Original title: Yüregine sor (Ask Your Heart)
Hundred years ago two young people of different faiths became victims of the law of their time. Mustafa's family had to hide they were Christians, to cope with statutory obligations of the Ottoman Empire. Two young people had to hide their love over high mountains behind the clouds. When the clouds scattered the secret that had been hidden for centuries was revealed. Social conditions are stronger than their love. In order to stand up for their love, they will need to become legends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kchjpf_0Evk
A Muslim Turkish woman (Esma) falls in love with a Christian man (Mustafa). Esma, however, does not know the real identity of Mustafa, since he and his entire family pretend to be Muslims. The film tells us a love story of these young villagers in the mountains of the Black Sea at the end of the 19th century. Let’s read the background of the film from its official website at askyourheartmovie.com“Some of the Greeks living in the highlands of Trabzon/Maçka and Gümüşhane; hard to reach remote villages such as Krom, Yağlıdere, Stavri, Zigana, Santa, Torul, had to show themselves as Muslims, mainly to avoid paying heavy taxes. They were forced to convert to Islam in the 17th century but as they kept their faith in Christianity secretly, they are known in history as hidden/Cryptic Christians.Hidden Christians had two names (one Muslim and one Christian); they had their children baptized; they married into the real Christian or Muslim families. The marriage ceremony was seemingly in accordance with the Islamic traditions, but at night there was a secret Christian marriage ceremony as well. It was difficult for them to have their children baptized because there was no priest in most of the villages.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kchjpf_0Evk
A Muslim Turkish woman (Esma) falls in love with a Christian man (Mustafa). Esma, however, does not know the real identity of Mustafa, since he and his entire family pretend to be Muslims. The film tells us a love story of these young villagers in the mountains of the Black Sea at the end of the 19th century. Let’s read the background of the film from its official website at askyourheartmovie.com“Some of the Greeks living in the highlands of Trabzon/Maçka and Gümüşhane; hard to reach remote villages such as Krom, Yağlıdere, Stavri, Zigana, Santa, Torul, had to show themselves as Muslims, mainly to avoid paying heavy taxes. They were forced to convert to Islam in the 17th century but as they kept their faith in Christianity secretly, they are known in history as hidden/Cryptic Christians.Hidden Christians had two names (one Muslim and one Christian); they had their children baptized; they married into the real Christian or Muslim families. The marriage ceremony was seemingly in accordance with the Islamic traditions, but at night there was a secret Christian marriage ceremony as well. It was difficult for them to have their children baptized because there was no priest in most of the villages.”
We watched this movie in Turkey and we had wonderful memories of our trip there. In this movie we could see a "Romeo and Juliette" version made in a Turkish environtment, and with the religion differences as the separation context. We could see images of the Black Sea region, their customs, their foods, their agricultural harvests and jobs, their dances... It is a really good movie to watch and learn about that Turkish region customs.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the Turkish team for such a good choice!
Thanks a lot Joaquina.I think Kurçelli’s film is the first of its kind in Turkey. It brings a subject to our attention that only lives in our social subconscious. Once upon a time, in every corner of this country we had Christian neighbors as in “Ask Your Heart.”But, after all, “Ask Your Heart” is a love story. It also tells us that love does not know boundaries, taboos or racial or religious differences. And it doesn’t always have a happy ending!
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