Egg (2007 film)

Egg
Film poster
TurkishYumurta
Directed bySemih Kaplanoğlu
Written bySemih Kaplanoğlu
Orçun Köksal
Produced bySemih Kaplanoğlu
Lilette Botassi
StarringNejat İşler
Saadet Aksoy
Ufuk Bayraktar
Tülin Özen
Gülçin Santırcıoğlu
Kaan Karabacak
Semra Kaplanoglu
Release dates
  • May 22, 2007 (2007-05-22) (Cannes)
  • November 9, 2007 (2007-11-09)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryTurkey
LanguageTurkish

Egg (Turkish: Yumurta) is a 2007 Turkish drama film directed by Semih Kaplanoğlu. The film is the first instalment of the Yusuf Trilogy, named after the eponymous lead character of the series, which includes Milk and Honey, filmed and released in reverse chronological order. It was shown Directors' Fortnight at the 60th Cannes Film Festival.[1][2][3][4]

Plot

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Poet Yusuf learns about the death of his mother Zehra and goes back to his hometown, Tire, where he had not been for years. In his mother's house, a young girl, his cousin Ayla, awaits him. Yusuf had not been aware of Ayla, who had been living with his mother for five years.

Ayla conveys to Yusuf Zehra's pledge to sacrifice a lamb after her death and tells Yusuf that he has to carry out his mother's wishes. Gradually he succumbs to the memories in the house, and the rhythms of the town, its inhabitants, and the spaces filled with ghosts.

Yusuf and Ayla set off for a saint's tomb, a couple of hours away, for the religious sacrifice ceremony that his mother had pledged. Arriving after the herd from which they had planned to purchase a lamb has gone into the mountains to graze, they are forced to spend the night in a hotel by a nearby crater lake. A wedding ceremony held at the hotel brings Yusuf and Ayla closer.

Cast

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  • Nejat İşler as Yusuf
  • Saadet Aksoy as Ayla
  • Ufuk Bayraktar as Haluk
  • Tülin Özen as woman in the bookstore
  • Gülçin Santırcıoğlu as Gül
  • Kaan Karabacak as peasant child
  • Semra Kaplanoglu as Zehra

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ Elley, Derek (2007-05-29). "Egg". Variety.
  2. ^ "Turkish winds at Cannes Film Festival". Hürriyet Daily News. 2007-05-11. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  3. ^ "Turkish films on screen at Cannes Film Festival". Hürriyet Daily News. 2007-05-17. Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  4. ^ "Egg" (PDF). Press Kit. Kaplan Film Production. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
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