A musical voyage among exotic places and people of Anatolia, unique host of ancient civilizations, empires as well as mythologies and glory of 10 millennia.
The fruit of 350 hours of footage, more than 40,000 km traveled and 133 recorded live performances, Lost Songs of Anatolia may be the first example of its kind as a documentary-musical film. The cultural riches of Anatolia are sung in authentic performances recorded live on location spontaneously. With the modern arrangements made, an incomparable musical is formed.
While this journey is showing how music and culture is derived from life, geography and work, an exploration of Anatolia’s versatile cultures takes place on a basis of music, dance and rituals. The staggering environment surrounding these people and influencing their lifestyles contribute the lyric flow of the film.
The making of this film took more than 5 years, during which Anatolia was explored thoroughly twice, and afterwards, several additional shootings were made at spot locations. A total of 133 performances were recorded on 121 locations and 43 of them were selected to take place in the film.
The making of this film took more than 5 years, during which Anatolia was explored thoroughly twice, and afterwards, several additional shootings were made at spot locations. A total of 133 performances were recorded on 121 locations and 43 of them were selected to take place in the film.
Cultures taking place in the film Circassian (Cherkes) Dances from Duzce; Alevit rituel semah and folk songs from Tokat;Horon Dance from Trabzon; Hemsin Songs and improvisations from Rize; Polyphonic Georgian Songs from Artvin; Minstrel Quarrel and The Shepherd’s Love Song from Kars; Eagle Dance from Bingol; Bektasi Song from Tunceli; Dengbej Song in Mus; Cotton field workers’ Work Song from Diyarbakir; Syriac rituals in Mardin; Folk songs from Midyat and scenes from Harran; Gazel from Urfa; Barak Song from Gaziantep; Silk producer’s Work Song in Hatay; Folk songs and Kirtil Semah Ritual from Silifle; Bozlak Song from Kirikkale; Zeybek Dance and a Karacaoglan Song from Denizli; Nomad’s music played with kemane and sipsi from Burdur. Also Lover and the Beloved Dance; Gypsy’s Drum and Clarion from Mugla; Sword and Shield Game from Bursa; Armenian and Greek Songs; Whirling Dervishes.
The director Nazih Unen says, “The day we started this film, I have told to my crew that: “There is no scenario to follow. It will be written by Anatolia”. And so it happened! In this land of tired and worn out cultures remaining from the ancient civilizations, my way of doing this film had been spontaneity and serving people telling their stories via songs, rituals and dances.
At the beginning, my motivation was more musical oriented rather than documentary. Having a reasonable music career before directing this film, I have always been thinking of the potantial in Anatolian cultures for creating new musical styles. So, my first intention was to make a contemporary, but eccentric musical film, based on the authentic performances of Anatolian people.
But during the travels we made in Anatolia, I was so impressed by the cultural heritage and the lifestyles of those people that, the project which I was to shape started shaping me instead, and a documentary style started to influence the first idea. So, the final product came out to be a unique documentary-musical.”
Nezih Ünen was born and lived in Bursa until age of 18, when he moved to Istanbul for collage. He has always been interested in music and photography during school years. While he was a student in Bosphorus University School of Engineering, he took place in several photography exhibitions and has been in music and drama activities.
After graduation, he decided to make his living by music. He always had interest in creating new ideas rather than expertising on a kind. The most common aspect of his works has been uniting the music of different types and cultures in his own way.
In his 20 years of music career as a composer, producer, arranger and singer, he produced a number of music videos and made music for film. These experiences gave him the courage to start his first film “Lost Songs of Anatolia”.
Directed and Produced: NEZIH UNEN
Directors of Photography: ARAS DEMIRAY
BEHIC GULSACAN
Music Produced: NEZIH UNEN
Co-produced: HASAN ASLANOBA
Executive Producers: MAHIR ALTUNDAG &
VEDAT ATASOY
