FOREIGN MOVIES SHOT IN CAPPADOCIA

Writer: Ayça Olcaytu İşçen
October 2007

Cappadocia, where attracts movie makers with its magnificence, richness and its atmosphere which is an inspiration for creative people, became a natural film set. Cappadocia is just like a movie star with its unique beauty, inciter mystery, and seductive attractiveness.
In this issue, we want to introduce you foreign movies shot in Cappadocia.

Many times we take cinema as a shelter against pains. We always enjoy the movies about love or those based on extraordinary stories or fairytales. Fairytale word evokes us what Şehrazat told during 1001 nights to Shah Şehriyar, who she married to save the lives of the girls in her country. Naturally, cinema concerned with this masterpiece called ‘Arabian Nights’. Italian film director Pier Paolo Pasolini’s extraordinary film, ‘Arabian Nights’ (Il fiore delle mille e una notte-1974) which he created adding his brave and sharp narration and Steve Barron’s visually rich TV film that has the same name, are attracting attention among many films based on this fairytale. Barron knew that Cappadocia’s fascinating atmosphere was an elusive set for his ‘Arabian Nights’. These two films have distinct narrations but a common point: Cappadocia.  
Becoming a set for surreal movies is quite natural for Cappadocia, because of the characteristics it has. Especially, if you are shooting a film that has fantastic items, is it possible to find a place better than Cappadocia? Although there are many lands known as ‘heaven’ in the world, which one of them can be a movie star as good as Cappadocia? People who think that I’m exaggerating are the ones who have not watched those films, yet.

The Ones magnetized by Cappadocia
Pasolini, who chose famous soprano Maria Callas as lead actress, shoot some scenes of Medea (1969) in Cappadocia that was the most suitable place for the story and extraordinary cinema language.
Cappadocians who were watching ‘Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran’ (2002) in Zelve-Paşabağları set, queued up to take a souvenir photo with Omar Sharif. Omar Sharif explained that he got touched from heartiness of Cappadocians and beauty of Cappadocia that he visited for the first time. 
Chris Nohan directed the film (2004) based on the best seller ‘L’Empire des Loups’ of Jean-Christophe Grange. Some scenes of the film, where Jean Reno played the lead role, were shot in Uçhisar, in Cappadocia. Cappadocians and the press paid attention to this film set, too.
Harvey Keitel, lead actor of ‘The Stone Merchant’ (2005) that was shot in Avanos and directed by Renzo Martinelli, was loved too much so he was declared as ‘honorary fellow countryman of Uçhisar’.
Another Italian director Alberto Rondalli, benefited from Cappadocia’s mystical atmosphere for his film ‘Dervish and Death’ (2001).
French master Claude Lelouch shot some scenes of ‘Hasards Ou Coincidences’ (1997) in Cappadocia. The film is about love pursuit of a dancer.
Paxton Winter, American director who lives in Turkey, filmed adventurous journey of two American teenagers in Turkey in ‘Crude’ (2003). The film won awards from important film festivals. 
Also, Indians visited Cappadocia. Final scene of Rami Raja’s film ‘Sanktranthi’ (2005), was shot in Göreme Open Air Museum.
It seems many movie maker will be magnetized by Cappadocia’s attractiveness that tug at their heartstrings, with its unique beauty and sweet melodies like the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Note: This article has been published in Peribacası Cappadocia Culture and Publicity Magazine, October 2007 issue. It is under protection of the copyrights of the magazine. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by electronic, mechanical or other means without prior permission from the owner. www.cappadociaexplorer.com