Mortal World (Film)

Mortal World is a 2018 Turkish action comedy film directed by Ali Atay. The film narrates the events that unfold when the Mermer family, who have operated a restaurant at Haydarpaşa Garı for eight generations but are in fact covert operatives for an international criminal organization, have their true identities exposed, blending dark humor and action.

Trailer of the Mortal World Film (TAFF Pictures)

The film centers on the Mermer family, who have run the Anatolian Tat Restaurant at Haydarpaşa Garı for eight generations. To the outside world, the Mermers appear to be an ordinary, self-contained family, but in reality they have lived for generations under a secret identity, serving as hitmen for an international criminal syndicate. When a mistake made by one family member violates a core rule of the organization, their hidden identity is revealed. Now forced to flee both the lethal wrath of the syndicate and the police, the Mermer family embarks on a grueling struggle to escape the chaotic situation they have fallen into and survive. The escape process exposes the family’s internal dynamics, conflicts, and their unconventional ways of coping with absurd circumstances.

• Family and Loyalty: The film places the concept of family and the members’ bond with one another—at times problematic—at its core. The necessity for the family to act as a unit is one of its fundamental dynamics.
• Secret Identities and Duplicity: The Mermer family’s facade as ordinary restaurant owners, while secretly functioning as hired killers, underscores the conflict between identity and reality.
• Crime and Consequence: The film intertwines comedy with an exploration of the inner workings of the criminal underworld and the characters’ confrontation with the consequences of their actions.
• Black Comedy: Despite the seriousness of the events, the absurdity of situations and dialogue forms the film’s defining comedic style. The dialogue, written primarily by Feyyaz Yiğit, strongly reinforces this structure.
• Action and Suspense: Through escape and pursuit sequences, the film incorporates elements of action and suspense alongside its comedy.
• Generational Conflict and Tradition: Differences in understanding between the family’s various generations and their adherence to the criminal tradition are addressed with occasional humorous tone.

Ali Atay directed the film. The screenplay was written by a large team including Ali Atay, Aziz Kedi, Feyyaz Yiğit, Volkan Sümbül, and Ali Demirel. Production was handled by TAFF Pictures. The 107-minute film was shot in Turkish. Mortal World was released in Türkiye on 26 January 2018.

• Gazanfer: Gazanfer is the most experienced and level-headed member of the Mermer family, serving as its patriarchal figure. He is a charismatic but stern leader who acts out of a protective instinct toward his family, yet remains haunted by his past.
• Oktay: Oktay is the family member who appears rational but consistently makes the most absurd decisions. He harbors an inner desire to be a hero, yet often complicates situations further.
• Serhan: Serhan is a slightly roguish and selfish character, but never malicious. He stands out through his practical intelligence, though he is not without ego-driven outbursts.
• Begüm: Begüm accompanies the family as Serhan’s girlfriend. She stands firm in a male-dominated structure, possesses a sharp tongue, and at times emerges as the most level-headed member.
• Zafer: Zafer is the group’s most “distracted” and “confused” member. He frequently responds inappropriately and at the wrong moments.
• Serbest: Serbest is one of the film’s most absurd and surreal characters. He oscillates between emotional fragility and aggression.
• İlhami: İlhami represents the lingering debts of the past. He is a cold, dangerous, and charismatic figure.
• Atakan: Atakan is like a landmine ready to explode. He can become enraged over the smallest incident, yet possesses an inward vulnerability. His humor is largely generated through his aggression.
• Sevil: Sevil is the wife of a Mermer family member. She married into the family at a young age and fully integrated into it, becoming the cheerful, affectionate older sister to the children. Alongside her compassionate nature, she has adapted to the criminal organization.

Mortal World, released in Türkiye on 26 January 2018, earned 7,052,664 Turkish liras at the box office. From its release, the film attracted attention for its dialogue, characters, and absurdist sense of humor. Over time, the widespread circulation of its lines and frequent references by audiences have become indicators of its popularity.