Sultan (Film)

Sultan is a 1978 Turkish drama film. Directed by Kartal Tibet and written by Yavuz Turgul, the film portrays the life struggles, motherhood, love, and social resistance of a widowed woman living in a shantytown neighborhood. The lead roles are shared by Türkan Şoray and Bulut Aras, with important performances by Şener Şen, Adile Naşit, and Erdal Özyağcılar. The film’s producer is Ertem Eğilmez.

Plot

The film tells the story of Sultan (Türkan Şoray), a young widow raising her four children in a shantytown neighborhood. To support her family, she works as a cleaner. While devoted to her children, she falls in love with Kenan (Bulut Aras), the son of the neighborhood headman. At first, Kenan appears to be a carefree youth drawn to Sultan, but over time his feelings become serious.

However, a significant obstacle stands in the way of their love: Kenan’s father, the headman. Using the pretext of a new road project, the headman seeks to buy back the shantytown plots he sold years earlier at low prices and force residents out of their homes. This triggers widespread social resistance in the neighborhood. Sultan and Kenan find themselves at the forefront of this struggle, fighting to protect both their love and their community.

Sultan Film Poster (IMDb)

Themes

The film addresses themes such as women’s labor, motherhood, poverty, social injustice, urbanization, class conflict, and solidarity. It also brings to light the shantytown culture and the socio-economic transformations experienced in Türkiye during the 1970s.

Cast and Characters

• Türkan Şoray – Sultan
• Bulut Aras – Kenan (the Headman’s Son)
• Şener Şen – Bahtiyar the Grocer
• Adile Naşit – Ebe Hatice
• Erdal Özyağcılar – Çarli Cevat

Cast of Sultan Film (IMDb)

Awards

1979 Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival

Nominations – Turkish Cinema Writers Association (SİYAD) Awards, 1979

• Best Film – Yavuz Turgul
• Best Screenplay – Yavuz Turgul
• Best Actress – Türkan Şoray
• Best Actor – Bulut Aras
• Best Supporting Actor – Şener Şen