120 (film)

the motion picture the camera film format 120 film 120 120FilmPoster.jpg Theatrical poster Murat SaraçoğluÖzhan Eren Özhan Eren Özhan Eren Cansel Elçin Özge Özberk Burak Sergen Ahmet Uz Demir Karahan Emin Olcay Özhan Eren Posta Tanitim Hizmetleri Özen Film Kinostar Cinegraph 2008 02 15 120 min Turkey Turkish US$3,000,000 US$3,714,949 120 is a 2008 Turkish war film directed by Murat Saraçoğlu and Özhan Eren based on the true story of 120 children who died in 1915 carrying ammunition for the Battle of Sarikamish against the Russians during World War I. The film went on general release across Turkey on 2008 02 15 and is one of the highest grossing Turkish films of 2008.Film on little Turkish heroes Yusuf Bülbül http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-125046-new-movie-to-honor-aqua-aqua-aqua-aqua120-unsung-heroes.html Today's Zaman 2007-10-20 2010-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20121011010420/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-125046-new-movie-to-honor-aqua-aqua-aqua-aqua120-unsung-heroes.html 2012-10-11 dead Heroes reborn in '120' Emine Yıldırım http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-151967-heroes-reborn-in-aqua-aqua-aqua-aqua120.html Today's Zaman 2008-09-03 2010-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20121011010611/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-151967-heroes-reborn-in-aqua-aqua-aqua-aqua120.html 2012-10-11 dead Journey to the end of Anatolia Emrah Güler https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/h.php?news=journey-to-the-end-of-anatolia-2008-09-06 Hürriyet Daily News 2008-09-06 2010-10-19 Production Writer, producer and co-director Özhan Eren, an expert on the Caucasus Campaign in World War I, who came across the story of the 120 boys while doing the research for his bestselling The Road to Sarıkamış (tr Sarıkamış'a Giden Yol), spent three years preparing for the film. I adore period movies... this is what stimulates me about the movie... The authentic historical scenario of the movie is one of the features that make the film exceptional. We show what our ancestors sacrificed -- and under which conditions -- for the country. There may not be many battle scenes, but there certainly is emotion around every corner. It is about the heroism of 120 children. I expect the audience to respond positively, looking from this perspective. Co-director Mustafa Saraçlıoğlu It is a theme I have stressed for years. We went through unique battles and pretty hard days as a nation. However, we are somehow unsuccessful in making movies out of them. We are unable to tell our history to the coming generations... We experienced calamities. In each home we have a martyr. These [stories] have to be told, and '120' is a crucial project in this respect. It will be tiring for me, but it is worth it. Actor Emin Olcay The film, which received a record amount of support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was shot over two years in harsh conditions on location in Safranbolu, Van and Istanbul, Turkey. When heavy snow, expected in Van for the winter settings of the film, failed to arrive, 20 trucks, two loaders and 30 staff members had to be hired to bring 300 tons of snow from Çaldıran to Van for several scenes.Film on little Turkish heroes https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/h.php?news=film-on-little-turkish-heroes-2007-12-17 Hürriyet Daily News 2007-12-17 2010-10-19 Plot During the Battle of Sarikamish, the Ottoman army runs out of ammunition and appeals for help to the people of Van, who happen to have supplies. However, the First World War is on and all the men are fighting at the four corners of the empire and therefore cannot respond to the appeal. The young children of Van want to do something and when the principal of a school, who has lost a son in the war, suggests that they transport ammunition to the army, 120 young boys aged 12 to 17 volunteer and take to the road. The movie tells the true story of the 120 boys and their sisters and mothers left behind, who wait for their return. Cast Ozge Ozberk Burak Sergen Cansel Elcin Yaşar Abravaya Melih Atalay Ozan Cem Dur Emin Olcay tr Emin Olcay Demir Karahan tr Demir Karahan Deniz Güngören Halil Kumova tr Halil Kumova İncilay Şahin tr İncilay Şahin Misak Toros tr Misak Toros Melza Burcu İnce İbrahim Öner Mustafa Karakoyun Ahmet Uz tr Ahmet Uz Oytun Öztamur Emre Törün Alican Yılmaz Release The film went on general release, with what Emrah Güler described as, an aggressive (and unnecessarily nationalistic) marketing campaign, in 179 screens across Turkey on 2008 02 15 at number one in the Turkish box office with an opening weekend gross of US$376,812.120 https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?page=&wk=2008W7&id=_f1201 Box Office Mojo 2010-10-19 The film had a gala screening in Stuttgart on 2008 05 07 before going on general release in 32 screens across Germany on 2008 05 08 at number 17 in the German box office with an opening weekend gross of US$53,763.Period drama '120' set to open in German theaters http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-140341-period-drama-aqua-aqua-aqua-aqua120-set-to-open-in-german-theaters.html Today's Zaman 2008-04-29 2010-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20121011011030/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-140341-period-drama-aqua-aqua-aqua-aqua120-set-to-open-in-german-theaters.html 2012-10-11 dead The film was re-released, to coincide with August 30 Victory Day (tr Zafer Bayramı) celebrations, in 32 screens across Turkey on 2008 08 29 at number thirteen in the Turkish box office with an opening weekend gross of US$23,071. Reception Box office The film was in the Turkish box office charts for 41 weeks and is the 9th highest-grossing Turkish film of 2008 with a total nationwide gross of US$3,289,480. Reviews Despite the tone of the press release and the trailer... [it is] attracting impressive crowds thanks to rising nationalism, fueled by, among many things, the debates around the Armenian issue, [the film] is very careful not to become another tool for mindless propaganda in the recent nationalist discourses. And neither does it play out as praise of war. It simply tells a sad story, lost to the annals of history. The trick is that the period the movie carefully taps into is a minefield already, whether you are careful not to take sides or overlook certain details. [The film] opens up another discussion on whether you can make an anti-war film through depicting war and the unnecessary deaths of many, when most of the time it is better to find a justification for those deaths if you do not want your young to have died in vain. Hürriyet Daily News reviewer Emrah Güler On the whole, [it] is a powerful film despite its many setbacks, including the usual didactic dialogue, overdose of melodrama and over-length running time. It reminds us that the milestones forming the Turkish Republic were achieved with great personal and social sacrifice under the harshest of conditions, where disease and poverty had already overcome Anatolia. Throughout our childhood and youth, we are always taught how painstakingly difficult and laborious it was to declare independence to create modern Turkey, and yes, sometimes we hear it to too many times for own good. However, the makers of '120' -- I want to believe with good intentions -- succinctly remind us that indeed it was never easy as a nation to get to where we are now. In our current socio-politically volatile times, let's just hope that history doesn't repeat itself. Today's Zaman reviewer Emine Yıldırım References External links 1166085 120 Category:2008 films Category:World War I films set in the Middle East Category:Films set in Turkey Category:Turkish war films Category:2008 war films Category:2008 Turkish-language films Category:2008 Turkish films