Turkish films about hard life

List of the best Turkish films about hard life according to the audience: Paper Lives, Five Minarets in New York, Two Hearts As One, Rhino Season, Future Lasts Forever, Muslum, Ezel, Killing the Shadows, The Crimean, Three Monkeys.

In the top there are new films of 2023, a plot description and trailers for films that have already been released.

Country
Markimdb: 6.5
Genredrama
CountryTurkey

In the streets of Istanbul, ailing waste warehouse worker Mehmet takes a small boy under his wing and must soon confront his own traumatic childhood.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genreaction, thriller, drama, crime
CountryTurkey, USA

Two Turkish anti-terrorist agents are sent to New York City on a mission to find and bring back the dangerous Islamic leader codenamed "Dajjal", believed to be hiding in there. Working with the FBI and NYPD, the agents orchestrate the arrest of Hadji Gumus, a well-respected Muslim scholar and family man who years before fled to the United States after being released from a Turkish prison, where he served time for murder. This tale love, friendship, peace and prejudices, takes us on a journey seeking to answer the question of whether innocence or guilt even matters to one who lusts for vengeance.

Markimdb: 7.7
Genredrama, history
CountryTurkey

A look inside the story of two newlyweds who are parted from each other and spend the next half-century of their lives trying to reunite.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genrethriller, drama, history
CountryIraq, Turkey, Iran

Kurdish-Iranian poet Sahel has just been released from a thirty-year prison sentence in Iran. Now the one thing keeping him going is the thought of finding his wife, who thinks he's been dead for over twenty years.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genredrama
CountryGermany, France, Turkey
Duration01:48

A woman struggles with love and personal loss against the backdrop of a land torn by civil war in this drama from filmmaker Ozcan Alper. Sumru (Gaye Gursel) is a Turkish woman who studies ethnic music at a college in Istanbul and frequently makes field recordings of artists who practice rare and unusual forms. Sumru is struggling with loneliness after the disappearance of her Kurdish boyfriend, and for her latest project, she sets out on a lengthy road trip recording the stories of Kurdish women who have survived the murder of their Turkish husbands or lovers, hoping she might track down her man in her travels. After making her first stop in the city of Diyarbaki, Sumru meets Ahmet, who makes a living selling black market goods and shares her love of music and history. The two become fast friends, and as Ahmet joins Sumru on her travels, their relationship grows deeper, though she also becomes more aware of the tragedy that has gripped her country and the consequences of the civil war.

Markimdb: 7.7
Genremelodrama, drama, music, biography
CountryTurkey

The movie is about the legendary Turkish "soul singer" Müslüm Gürses. Born into a poor family, Muslum found his redemption in music from the initial trauma that lingered over his musical and personal life as internalizing the grief. He rose through his ashes of shattered dreams like a phoenix. He walked in darkness, sang songs filled with sorrow which stirred people's souls and created a cult following. They were calling him "Baba" (The Father).

Markimdb: 8.7
Genrethriller, drama, crime
CountryTurkey

Ömer, a young man returning from military service, is set up by his friends and fiancé and ends up in prison for ten years. He fakes his own death and manages to escape. He re-creates himself as ‘Ezel’, a high-end gambler who is outwardly a successful man, but inwardly driven by one thing - his determination to understand why the people he loved betrayed him, and take his revenge.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryTurkey

Killing The Shadows is a bawdy comic fable set in the Ottoman Empire during the mid-14th century based on two legendary figures in Turkish folkore, the jester Hacivat (Beyazit Ozturk) and the nomad Karagoz (Haluk Bilginer), men who apparently lived and died by their sense of humour.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military, history
CountryTurkey
Duration01:54

The human tragedy and the suffering of the Crimean Turks who were taken hostage as prisoners of war in German prison camps during World War II.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genredrama
CountryTurkey, France, Italy
Duration01:49

A family battles against the odds to stay together when small lies grow into an extravagant cover-up. In order to avoid hardship and responsibilities that would otherwise be impossible to endure, the family chooses to ignore the truth, not to see, hear or talk about it. But does playing “Three Monkeys” invalidate the truth of its existence?

Markimdb: 7.1
Genrefantastic, thriller, drama, crime
CountryIndia, Turkey

Swapna, a nyctophobic game designer, is on a turbulent road to recovery from an incident that scarred her deeply, has to fight her inner demons to stay alive in the game called life.

Markimdb: 4.8
Genreaction, drama, military, biography, history
CountryTurkey

he story is real story that tells about a man's life who has a very influential philosopher that had lived in between 1877-1960. His name is 'Said Nursi' and he is originally Kurdish. But, he speaks perfectly Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, and Persian. He wrote and compiled too many books that had aimed to develop personal beliefs, the belief of faith, brotherhood, philanthropy, the loyalty of state, moreover, discovering the problems in Turkey; the reasons of weakness, poorness, ignorance, untutored, divisions in society, divergence, estrangement of ethics, religion. And to find the solutions of those problems.. And his struggle for doing this toward a secret committee..

Markimdb: 7.4
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryTurkey

Failed magician Iskender decides to do a tour to save his career, but has to bring his grumpy and senile father along. The tour is quite unexpectedly interrupted when a bride actually disappears from the stage.

Markimdb: 8.2
Genredrama, family
CountryTurkey
Duration01:48

A Turkish man, whose wife died while giving birth to his son during a military coup, finally returns home. Estranged from his father for turning his back on the family farm, he takes his 8 year-old and tries to repair relations. The film won an award for its soundtrack at the World Soundtrack Awards, awarded to Evanthia Reboutsika.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama
CountryTurkey
Duration02:16

1960s Turkey countryside. A newly assigned teacher finds out that the solitary village is missing a school. He gets fond of the village people and especially a disabled man. The teacher helps the village to build a new school and educate the children and the disabled man.

Markimdb: 7.4
Genredrama
CountryGermany, Turkey
Duration01:37

Establishing a bleak village in Eastern Turkey as its setting, Sivas features the story of Aslan, an eleven-year-old boy, and Sivas, a weathered fighting dog who develop a strong relationship after Aslan finds Sivas wounded in a ditch, left to die.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genredrama
CountryTurkey, Germany
Duration02:02

A bitter conflict has raged between guerrillas and the army in Turkey's Kurdish regions for over 30 years. Large expanses have now become war zones. Countless young people have lost their lives to the conflict. This dangerous but incredibly beautiful mountainous country is home to 17-year-old Jîn. But she is no longer safe since she secretly stole away from a group of rebels with whom she was fighting. Now she wanders the picturesque landscape alone, caught between two fronts. All of a sudden, the sound of gunfire and explosions rend the air above the untouched natural scenery. Attack is threatened from all sides. Desperate to find peace, Jîn decides to escape to another part of the country – an impossible plan, since the military is omnipresent and there are road blocks everywhere. As a Kurd without identity papers she risks arrest at every turn. In addition, as a woman with no family to shield her, many men will see her as fair game. But her courage is unbroken.

Markimdb: 3.9
Genrecomedy
CountryTurkey

Enes Batur has to decide between going to college or being a professional YouTuber

Markimdb: 4.4
Genrecomedy, melodrama
CountryTurkey

Kill Me Darling is the story of a couple who decide to kill each other. Okan and Demet are married couple for 5 years. However, despite their years together, their relationship is not very good. The love of the two started like a fairy tale, continued with great excitement and reached a happy end. However, as their lives began to become ordinary after marriage, that sense of excitement within the couple began to die. At the end of 5 years, they become overwhelmed by each other. Even though they want different lives, the young couple, who cannot express it and start to become nervous to each other without making a sound, become a victim of a great misunderstanding on their wedding anniversary. As a result of the mistake, the husband and wife of 5 years decide to kill each other..

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, drama
CountryTurkey

A son tries to restore the honour of his father, who was imprisoned during the 1980 military coup.

Markimdb: 8.3
Genredrama, biography, sport
CountryTurkey

From defecting to the Olympics, an underdog weightlifter powers through adversity to raise up his community in this biopic of Naim Süleymanoğlu.

Markimdb: 7.1
Genrethriller, drama
CountryTurkey

Elephants and Grass (Turkish: Filler ve Çimen) is a 2001 Turkish drama film, written and directed by Derviş Zaim, about six different stories that merge into a common theme. The film, which went on nationwide general release across Turkey on January 5, 2001, won awards at film festivals in Antalya and Istanbul, including the Golden Orange Behlül Dal Jury Special Award.

Markimdb: 5.3
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryTurkey
Duration02:23

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genrecomedy, adventure
CountryTurkey

Days before Eid, a salesman fired from his job drives to meet his girlfriend's family, but the trip goes astray due to his zany travel buddy.

Markimdb: 6.2
Genrethriller, drama
CountryJapan, France, USA, South Korea, Turkey
Duration02:13

Shuji is an uncompromising young filmmaker at odds with Japanese society. One day he learns that his loan shark brother, who had helped to finance his films, has been executed by his own yakuza gang for failing to repay his debts. Described as a love poem to Japanese films of the past, as well as a protest at the present, CUT is an exploration of one man’s obsessive relationship with cinema.

Markimdb: 6
Genrecomedy, melodrama
CountryTurkey
Duration02:24

Directed by Özcan Deniz.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryTurkey
Duration01:58

Year 1977, a September morning in Ankara... Yilmaz tries to rush his pregnant wife Neriman to the hospital and he crashes into Omer's car. The causes Omer's pregnant wife Inci, who was in the back seat, to have a pre-term labor. The babies are born on the same day. They see each other for the first time... This accident is the threshold of the coincidences that bring Ozgur and Deniz together. They come across each other in Ankara several times during their childhood and youth. Each intersection has a butterfly effect, resulting in drastic changes in their lives. They sometimes cause disasters, sometimes miracles. However, they can never be together. Whatever it is that brings them together, manages to build a transparent wall between them. Until they come across each other again in Istanbul, 25 years later... --Anonymous (imdb)

Markimdb: 7.8
Genredrama, crime
CountryTurkey
Duration02:37

In the rural area around the Anatolian town of Keskin, the local prosecutor, police commissar, and doctor lead a search for a victim of a murder to whom a suspect named Kenan and his mentally challenged brother confessed. However, the search is proving more difficult than expected as Kenan is fuzzy as to the body's exact location. As the group continues looking, its members can't help but chat among themselves about both trivia and their deepest concerns in an investigation that is proving more trying than any of them expected.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryAustria, Turkey, France
Duration01:45

Two years after the Bosnian civil war, a town that is slowly rebuilding itself must whip together a democracy when it's announced the U.S. President Bill Clinton might be paying a visit.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genremelodrama, drama
CountryTurkey

Ayvalik is brought into play by the mob from a family who came to Istanbul. Yigit's father committed suicide because of the mob.

Markimdb: 5.1
Genrecomedy, family, sport
CountryTurkey

A boxer from berlin gets involved in several schemes. When trouble mounts, he relocates to Turkey.

Markimdb: 4.5
Genrecomedy, melodrama, family
CountryTurkey

A woman desperately seeking for a man to love. When he finally arrives, she overlooks him.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genrethriller, drama, crime, detective
CountryTurkey

In the absence of Behzat Ç., a superintendent named Himmet gets replaced as the president of the murder Bureau. When the murder of minister of Interior makes a big impact, Himmet decides to take advantage of it and he makes his team help the fight against terrorism bureau.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genremelodrama, drama, crime
CountryTurkey

Tahsin is head of the Korludag family, his wealth and great influence in society makes him feared and respected by everyone. There isn’t a place or person in town that he does not control. Tahsin has two children; his son Korhan is a big disappointment to his father, but Sühan, his smart and beautiful daughter, he loves dearly. Korhan’s wife is without success trying to get pregnant. As she fears that Sühan will deliver an heir to the family fortune before herself, she tries to kill her sister-in-law. However, her evil plans are spoiled when a handsome stranger enters the story, saving Sühan's life, becoming her lover and taking his place as the son Tahsin always dreamt of. But what no one knows is that revenge runs in this stranger’s veins and it is no coincidence that he showed up when he did. Will his love for Sühan stop him going ahead with his plan to get vengeance on Tahsin or is it all part of his master plan…?

Markimdb: 5.3
Genremilitary, history
CountryTurkey

The true story of 7 oddly dressed fearless men of ottoman army fight against cruel Vlad.

Markimdb: 4.6
Genrecomedy, melodrama
CountryTurkey
Duration01:01

Out of pure coincidence, Onur and Lale meet at the same place due to a blind date that is arranged by their mothers.And during the next morning they find themselves in the same bed

Markimdb: 5.6
Genrecomedy
CountryTurkey

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genrecomedy
CountryTurkey

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 5.6
Genrecomedy, melodrama
CountryTurkey

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 6.3
Genreaction, thriller, crime
CountryFrance, USA, Turkey, United Kingdom
Duration01:31

In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genredrama
CountryTurkey, France, Germany, Luxembourg

25-year-old Sibel lives with her father and sister in a secluded village in the mountains of Turkey’s Black Sea region. Sibel is a mute, but she communicates by using the ancestral whistled language of the area.

Markimdb: 6.9
Genreaction, thriller, military
CountryTurkey

Picking up from the explosive cliffhanger of the sixth episode of the miniseries, the film follows the harrowing coup attempt night of July 15th, and the Police Special Operations and Special Forces heroes who put everything on the line to prevent a cultist takeover of Turkey.

Markimdb: 2.8
Genrecomedy
CountryTurkey

Recep İvedik is at home watching television, when postman brings him a surprise invitation for the annual dried beans festival of Konya province. Very excited with the news, Recep convinces his best friend Nurullah to join him but due to a miscommunication with the travel agency, they get plane tickets for Kenya, Africa, instead of Konya, Turkey. After arriving at Kenya and getting on a safari tour, our hapless companions find themselves lost in endless savannah and at the middle of two rival local tribes. Many adventures await Recep in this unfamiliar and exotic land, who will try anything and everything to return home, mostly to hilarious results.

Markimdb: 4.1
Genreaction, thriller, crime
CountryGermany, Turkey
Duration02:26

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 7.5
Genredrama
CountryTurkey, Germany, Netherlands, Greece

A stagnant and gloomy village in the 1980s. Reyhan, Nurhan, and Havva, three sisters were sent to town as 'besleme' (foster child and maid). Since they fail their foster parents for different reasons, they are sent back to their father's house in their poor village. Deprived of their dreams of a better life, they try to hold on to each other.

Markimdb: 7.6
Genredrama
CountryTurkey, France, Germany, Qatar
Duration01:58

In a Turkish village, five orphaned sisters live under strict rule while members of their family prepare their arranged marriages.

Markimdb: 7
Genrecomedy, drama
CountryTurkey

Yakup and Şemsa are Assyrians living in Berlin with their three children and grandchildren. Twenty-five years ago they migrated from Mardin to Berlin. One day they receive a phone call from Mardin. This unexpected call deals with their son Mikhael, whom they lost twenty-five years ago. All the suffering of the family is refreshed. Yakup and Şemsa go to Mardin with their grandchildren, Nardin, who do not want to leave them alone. This trip will be the beginning of all their personal journeys. When the craftsman Yakup, who had not come for years, abandoned his village and saw his house looted; He will go after his house door. On his journey of finding the door, he will be accompanied by her granddaughter Nardin and the smuggler Remzi.

Markimdb: 8.3
Genremelodrama, drama, military, history
CountryTurkey

Azize finds herself with her 3 children and mother-in-law in a difficult fight. She raises her children while fighting the difficulties of the war period and her husband's absence whom she loves more than anything. It's about war, love, greed, treason and sacrifice.

Markimdb: 6.7
Genreaction, comedy, drama, crime
CountryTurkey

We don't have an overview translated in English. Help us expand our database by adding one.

Markimdb: 7.8
Genredrama
CountryTurkey, Greece

Bekir is a young man who runs his father's business. He becomes infatuated with Ugur after she visits his shop one day. However she is in love with Zagor, a violent criminal. In a brawl Zagor kills the 'protector' of the family of Ugur and runs away with Ugur. After two subsequent murders he gets caught and Ugur asks for Bekir's help. She becomes a singer - whore and starts living from city to city following Zagor who is in prison, while Bekir follows her despite the fact that in the meantime he got married and has a child.




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