Cinema
The Herd
Sürü
Zeki Ökten · 1978
Synopsis
Two Kurdish clans tear each other apart in a vendetta. Şivan has married Berivan, a daughter of the rival family, and his father, Hamo Ağa, holds the young woman to be a bearer of misfortune: since she lost her three babies, Berivan no longer speaks. Şivan refuses to abandon her. Forced by the vendetta to sell the flock in Ankara, the clan loads the sheep onto a train, and the journey to the capital begins.
Context
The screenplay was written in prison, starting in 1973, by Yılmaz Güney, who also produced the film; Ökten directed and edited it. Tarık Akan plays the lead, with Tuncel Kurtiz and Güler Ökten; the music brings together Melike Demirağ, Şivan Perwer and Zülfü Livaneli. Released in Turkey on 27 September 1978, the film is among the ten best Turkish films according to the Ankara Cinema Association.
Who it is for
In Turkish, about two hours; distributed in France under the title Le Troupeau, and released in Turkey with subtitles.
Prizes and reception
Golden Leopard at Locarno in 1979, prize at Antwerp in 1980, Interfilm prize at Berlin, and six Golden Oranges at Antalya.