Delibal is a Turkish romantic drama film released in Türkiye in 2015, directed by Ali Bilgin, and starring Çağatay Ulusoy and Leyla Lydia Tuğutlu. Produced by Ay Yapım and distributed by Warner Bros. Turkey, the production focuses on Barış, a young architecture student and amateur musician, and his struggle with bipolar disorder, a mental illness, in addition to his love life.

Synopsis

The film centers on the intense and passionate love of university student Barış (Çağatay Ulusoy) for Füsun (Leyla Lydia Tuğutlu), whom he meets at the same university. Füsun is a highly successful young woman with a bright future in her education; she plans to go to America for her master's degree. Barış finds Füsun captivating at first sight and sincerely tries to win her over. As a result of these efforts, a strong bond forms between them, and the couple decides to get married shortly after. However, Barış's struggle with bipolar disorder complicates their relationship and daily lives. The film deeply explores Barış's internal conflicts and the impact of this illness on both him and his surroundings.

^{A Scene from Delibal (IMDb)}

Cast

• Çağatay Ulusoy – Barış
• Leyla Lydia Tuğutlu – Füsun
• Hüseyin Avni Danyal – Tarık
• Nazan Kesal – Selma
• Mustafa Avkıran – Hayri
• Laçin Ceylan – Macide
• Zafer Akkoyun – Haydar
• Toprak Sağlam – Filiz
• Barış Aytaç – Onur

Production Process

The film's screenplay was written by Yıldırım Türker. Director Ali Bilgin preferred a realistic and emotionally charged narrative in the film. Cinematography was handled by Serkan Güler, with emphasis placed on the characters' psychological states through location choices and lighting. The music features the signatures of Sezen Aksu and Ozan Bayraşa. The film is 117 minutes long and was released in Türkiye on December 25, 2015.

Thematic Structure

Delibal is one of the Turkish films that deals with themes of love, passion, and mental health. The film particularly examines the impact of mental illnesses like bipolar disorder on young individuals, both individually and socially. The enthusiastic and often uncontrollable emotional fluctuations of youth are symbolically reflected through Barış's psychological state. Additionally, the film conveys messages about both the healing and destructive aspects of passionate love.

^{A Scene from Delibal (IMDb)}

Box Office Performance

Delibal achieved significant commercial success in the Turkish cinema industry during its release period. The film generated approximately 16.8 million Turkish Liras in box office revenue, securing an important place among domestic romantic drama productions.

Awards and Academic Reviews

The film received particular acclaim for its acting performances; lead actor Çağatay Ulusoy was honored with the "Best Male Actor" award at the Türkiye Youth Awards. In addition, the film was nominated for "Best Film" at the Türkiye Youth Awards. Furthermore, the film's music, especially Sezen Aksu's song "Mutlu Sonsuz," was well-received by audiences. In academic platforms, Delibal is referenced in analyses regarding the portrayal of mental illnesses through cinema and in the context of youth themes.

^{Delibal Film Trailer (Ay Yapım)}