Anadolu'nun Kayip Sarkilari (2008) Reviews

• Lost Songs of Anatolia

  TotallyBlunt2010-03-20

  This is IMDb. But forget the glamour of popular cinema. This is Turkey. But forget the images fed to you about popular sun-and-sea tourism. Forget popular history, forget popular politics. This is a documentary, but forget National Geographic. There is a land whose known history extends 12,000 years back. A land that has seen the rise of mankind. A land that has given birth to so many civilizations, that has seen the birth and sometimes the demise of so many religions. A land ruled by many, coveted by many and claimed by many as theirs. Nezih Ünen and his crew has traveled Anatolia for eight years to film songs and dances of various regions, various ethnicities and religions that have existed on this land from time immemorial. After a sample of the naked form of these pieces, he adds to the music his own arrangement and weaves it into very real and very dramatic images of the land. Transfixed to the extraordinary display, one cannot help but remember all known history of the land and find the images of the living people on stone reliefs that can be found in museums and historical sites now. This documentary gives you a glimpse of all the colours in that tapestry of history, peoples and cultures. This is what remains when you strip the thin veneer of the flitting popular off Anatolia. And this is indeed just a glimpse of each of them; you are left to wonder what was behind all the songs, all the rituals, the life, of which you were given just a taste. I find it difficult to express my impression of this film. It is a must see for anyone with a little sense of music and history.

• An Audiovisual Marvel of the Cradle of Civilizations, Anatolia

  kayabay2010-06-06

  A supreme work of audiovisual presentation of the lost cultures of Anatolia, captured on 8 years of hard work. Nothing can impress you more than the original sounds, people, instruments & visual scenery. More than a documentary, a musical, a movie, a tale, a dream which your tears will run that they'll be lost in time within the universal pop-culture. Nezih Ünen did a remarkable work of art that you will regret to miss. Recorded in 5.1 Dolby Digital with creative editing and presented in various colorful scenery from the Anatolian landscapes, villages and of the people. That's not the Turks you'll only find in it, it is universal and covers many cultures, religions, languages and all kinds of richness that you'll enjoy watching all over again...

• Documentary from a director who is not interested in folk music at all!...

  kafandiyev2010-03-14

  Are you kidding me!.. Thanks god he was interested in western or alternative or instrumental or electronic music... On which behalf he produced something that will remain in our minds and especially on my shelf... As one of the most ancient worlds of human history folk music in the lands of Anatolia shares a huge spectrum of religions, cultures, languages, musical instruments, songs and voices... In this film you will witness how the songs that seem to be very difficultly interpreted and comprehended by our brains were transferred into joyful musical festival... It doesn't matter what color you are or what language you are speaking you will definitely like those masterpieces... even if you don't understand the language you will be moved or excited as you listen different ''cries'' or let it be songs in general way of understanding... Highly recommended... Don't miss...

• stunning to look at, not so much to listen to

  labeeb-mixmi2010-11-05

  Briefly, this film is a wonderful feast for the eyes, with gorgeous footage of Anatolia and the beautiful (mainly older) faces of the people that live there. Of course, this film is about their music, which is also sublime. But the problem is the modern arrangements that get pasted onto the "original" songs, transforming them, into something "palatable" for viewers who can't handle their unadorned beauty. I think the filmmakers made a big mistake here by not trusting the audience to hear the music in the way the performers actually present it. A shame and a waste.

• I enjoyed every second of it

  ray-ataergin-781-7534772016-09-10

  Stunning in more than one way, the documentary is a quick look (given the diversity of ethnic backgrounds of the people of Turkey) at the rich culture of a country which is unfortunately currently in a political turmoil. I sometimes find documentaries slow and boring. Not so with Lost Songs of Anatolia. The vistas and people views are stunning, the music and the stories that go with them are intriguing and interesting. Some people criticize the film maker for using electronic music mixed-in with authentic regional, folkloric songs. Although this is unusual for a documentary, it adds a certain dynamic to the whole experience. It also makes the songs more accessible and perhaps more palatable for the western ear. For me it doesn't take anything away from the originality of the songs, especially because all songs start with the singers singing alone without the accompaniment for the first few minutes (ok seconds), then the accompaniment of other instruments simply adds more depth to the music. Shortly the film achieves its goal of giving a delightful look into the complex social fabric of a country without boring the audience, and that itself is no small feat for a documentary style film that's 1.5 hrs long. I will definitely watch it again and perhaps more than once.