Breath: Long Live the Homeland (Film)

Breath: Long Live the Homeland is a Turkish war and drama film released in 2009. Directed by Levent Semerci, the film is based on a screenplay written by Levent Semerci, Hakan Evrensel, and Mehmet İlker Altınay. Produced by Murat Akdilek and Levent Semerci, the film tells the story of 40 soldiers stationed in a region near the border with Iraq. Adapted from Hakan Evrensel’s book Stories from the Southeast, the film has drawn attention among Turkish war-themed productions.

Plot

Breath: Long Live the Homeland follows the story of 40 soldiers under the command of a captain (Mete Horozoğlu) tasked with guarding a Gendarmerie outpost and a radio relay station located on Karabal Hill at an altitude of 2365 meters. As a large-scale cross-border operation begins, the strategic importance of the relay station increases due to its role in maintaining communication for the participating units. The captain and his men, stationed in a commando brigade in southeastern Türkiye, endure two days of harsh snow and blizzard conditions before reaching the outpost. During their time at the outpost alongside the gendarmerie soldiers, they share feelings of love, longing, and solidarity. The soldiers carry out their duties until the very last moment to protect the outpost and the radio equipment. The film reflects the harsh living conditions in the border region, the soldiers’ efforts in defending the homeland, and their emotional bonds.

Cast

• Mete Horozoğlu – Captain Mete
• Birce Akalay – Captain Mete’s Wife
• Barış Bağcı – Lieutenant Barış
• İsmet Üstekin
• Engin Baykal – Radio Operator Sedat
• Serkan Yakan
• Özgür Eren Koç
• İbrahim Aköz – İbo
• Muharrem Bayrak
• Hakan Bulut
• Rıza Sönmez
• Serkan Altıntaş – Vedat Dinçkaya
• Okan Avcı – Messenger to Lieutenant Barış

Production

Breath: Long Live the Homeland was filmed in 2008–2009 on Tahtalı Mountain in the Kemer district of Antalya. The film, adapted from Hakan Evrensel’s book Stories from the Southeast, was greenlit for production following the 2007 Dağlıca attack. A replica of the outpost was constructed on Tahtalı Mountain, and the actors were selected from students studying at various conservatories across Türkiye. Filming took place under challenging terrain and weather conditions.

Thematic Structure

• Defense of the Homeland and Sacrifice: The film emphasizes the soldiers’ selflessness in fulfilling their duty to protect the homeland and the hardships they endure. The strategic importance of the outpost is portrayed as a symbol of national defense.
• Solidarity and Brotherhood: The bonds between the soldiers form the emotional core of the film, highlighting the solidarity and fraternal feelings that emerge under extreme conditions.
• The Reality of War: The film realistically portrays the physical and psychological effects of war, the soldiers’ longing for their families, and their isolation in the border region.

Release and Reception

Breath: Long Live the Homeland was released in Turkish cinemas on 16 October 2009. Before its theatrical debut, the line “If you sleep, everyone dies!” gained widespread attention on social media, and the film became one of the most-watched films in Türkiye in 2009.

Awards and Nominations

• 2010 Yeşilçam Awards: Best Film – Won
• 2010 Yeşilçam Awards: Best Director (Levent Semerci) – Won