Mr. Muhsin was voted one of the Ten Best Turkish Films of all time by the Ankara Cinema Association.
"Muhsin Bey can be seen as a social mirror which manages to reflect, tragicomically, the 'changing Turkey' of the 80's. The film, based on the interaction between Muhsin Kanadıkırık (Şener Şen) and Ali Nazik (Uğur Yücel), is based around a clash of attitudes. Muhsin Kanadıkırık is a man living through life's autumn, not having achieved much success because of his principles, a music manager standing upright, tilting against windmills, a lover of traditional Turkish music (who without doubt hates arabesk!) and Ali Nazik is a youth from Urfa with a promising voice.
Yavuz Turgul, who also wrote the script of Muhsin Bey, focuses on conveying 'inter-cultural conflict' rather than 'inter-cultural dialogue', using the patterns of both the 'old' and 'new' Turkish cinema. Friendships, betrayal, love and unexpected events flow by as one would expect in a typical Turkish film, but also there are elements of a new, more original narrative.
The leading actors are the experienced Şener Şen and the young Uğur Yücel who never seems to struggle against the powerful presence of his elder co-star. With their unforgettable performances, and the winner-loser analysis of society; Muhsin Bey wins its reputation as an affecting emotional-nostalgic comedy. It should be emphasized that Ali Nazik, who chooses the easy path to becoming famous fast, is the one defined as the 'loser' by Yavuz Turgul.
One should also state that the film gathers a documentary-like quality in its realistic treatment of the life of the historical Beyoğlu quarter, with its alleys, music halls, and talent competitions. In this way the film is a prime example of a succesful depiction of the relationship between characters and their environment. Muhsin Bey is like a traditional song…about Beyoğlu, the music industry, ungratefulness and conscience."
-- Ankara Cinema Association |
Director YAVUZ TURGUL
 Yavuz Turgul (Istanbul, 1946) graduated from the Institute of Journalism in Istanbul University. He has worked as a journalist for six years then began to write scripts. He won Best Screenplay Awards in Antalya Film Festival with Abbas in Flower (1982), The Agha (1986) and Muhsin Bey (1987). His debut as a director was in 1984. In 1988 he won the Special Prize of the Jury with his film Muhsin Bey in the international competition of the Istanbul International Filmdays and also received the Special Prize of the Jury in San Sebastian. He directed The Bandit in 1996 which was a great commercial success in Turkey.
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