Throughout the 20th century, the Turkish film industry faced a familiar struggle of inadequate funding and poor conditions that limited their ability to produce movies. The film market was controlled by a few dominant import companies, with Western films from the US, France, Italy, and Germany being the most popular among audiences.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that Turkey began to see consistent film production, and the industry faced challenges from the rise of TV and video in the 70s, political turmoil, and economic crises in the 80s and 90s that significantly impacted ticket sales and the number of theaters.
However, the situation has improved since the mid-90s, and Turkish films now attract millions of viewers and often top the blockbuster lists. Despite this, the industry is still largely composed of individual projects from directors who work in other fields, and foreign companies handle film distribution.
The Girl with the Red Scarf
One notable Turkish film is “The Girl with the Red Scarf,” a 1978 romantic drama that won several awards and was voted one of the 10 Best Turkish Films by the Ankara Cinema Association.
