Pardon

Mert Baykal's Pardon (2005) is one of Turkish cinema's sharpest and most unforgettable dark comedies, blending absurd humor with a deeply unsettling critique of systemic injustice. Based on a true story, the film follows Ibrahim (Ferhan Sensoy) and his two close friends, Muzo (Rasim Öztekin) and Aydin (Ali Çatalbas), as they become victims of a terrifying bureaucratic nightmare-wrongfully imprisoned due to an incompetent and indifferent legal system.

At its core, Pardon is a tragic satire of authority, exposing the terrifying ease with which ordinary people can be swallowed by an uncaring system. What begins as a series of misfortunes quickly spirals into absurdity, yet the humor never overshadows the film's more harrowing themes. Instead, the comedy heightens the horror of the situation-turning police interrogations, courtroom hearings, and prison experiences into surreal moments of Kafkaesque insanity.

Ferhan Sensoy delivers a brilliant performance as Ibrahim, a man whose only crime is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The way his initial disbelief turns into full-blown despair is both hilarious and heartbreaking. His companions, played by Rasim Öztekin and Ali Çatalbas, add to the absurdity, making their camaraderie one of the film's most enduring elements. Despite their suffering, their friendship and humor persist, reinforcing a uniquely Turkish approach to tragedy-laughing through the pain.

Visually, Pardon keeps things grounded, with a raw, almost documentary-like realism that makes the absurdity even more striking. The prison sequences, full of eccentric characters and bleak environments, feel suffocating yet strangely comedic. The script, penned by Sensoy himself, is razor-sharp, delivering biting satire while maintaining a tight grip on the film's emotional weight.

Beyond its humor, Pardon is a scathing indictment of unchecked authority, corruption, and the apathy of institutions. It resonates as a cautionary tale about the fragility of justice, where the lives of innocent people can be derailed in an instant. The film lingers long after the credits roll-not just because of its comedy, but because of the bitter truth it exposes.

Pardon is a 2005 Turkish comedy film, directed by Mert Baykal, based on the play by Ferhan Sensoy. It tells the tragicomic story of three friends who end up in prison when they are mistaken as members of a terrorist organization. The film is said to be based on a true event, which adds to the absurdity and irony of the situation.

The film has a lot of potential for humor and satire, as it exposes the flaws and corruption of the judicial system, as well as the absurdity and cruelty of the prison life. The film also has a lot of heart, as it shows the friendship and loyalty of the three protagonists, who stick together and support each other through their ordeal. The film also has a touch of romance, as one of the friends, Ibrahim, tries to win the love of his childhood sweetheart, Asuman, who is married to his abusive brother-in-law.

The film is carried by the excellent performances of the three leads, who are all well-known comedians in Turkey.

However, the film suffers from a poor direction by the director, who fails to make the most of the material. The film is poorly paced and edited, with some scenes dragging on too long and others being cut too short. The film is also poorly shot and scored, with a bland and dull visual style and a generic and annoying soundtrack.

Pardon is a film that deserves to be seen and appreciated by anyone who loves comedy and drama. D settles for cheap and easy laughs instead of deeper and darker ones. But it is also a film that could have been much better, if only it had a more competent and courageous director.

Ferhan Sensoy's death left a void in political humor that may never be filled. He was perhaps the only theater actor and comedian who could raise the morale of Turkey's secular and Kemalist people, who were used to being oppositionists and minorities, and who could make them smile on issues that upset them and reflect their pain, resentment and anger. A satirical movie that reflects the problems related to justice and society's mentality so well is something we rarely see on the screens, even in old Turkey. Now there is no one doing it. I am sure that Ferhan Sensoy and Rasim Oztekin are at peace in the tavern in the sky right now.

It's a great movie. I really enjoyed it. Sometimes made me laugh loudly.

The movie is about a person who afraid of uniform and doesn't like to be called "LAN". He is a late age soldier in Turkish Army and before deployment he just wanted to see his loved one in Istanbul.

In the terminal, police fallows him then puts him and his friend under custody. Police officer make them sign a crime confession and story starts.

It's been almost seven years and they are still in the jail as innocent as everybody.

I got a chance to see the movie last week, and what an unfortunate pick it was. I really appreciate the last movement in Turkish Cinema which has produced quite good films; but with this one, I can easily tell you that it is one of the worst I've ever watched coming from the last generation Turkish movies (as bad as "Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar").

I waited, waited, waited....... with the hope that something was gonna happen and boom!!! the magical moment: turning all your perceptions of the movie upside down, making you get caught by the movie completely.

Unfortunately, after waiting for this magical moment about 45 minutes, it was the time for me to realize that there wouldn't be anything interesting coming at all. Even though I consider myself pretty much patient person, I couldn't take it anymore -as most of you would have done the same thing- i had to ff to see what happened at the end. At that point, you might ask "How come there wasn't anything good in the whole movie which brings together some of the very well-known names from Turkish Cinema&Theater scene?".

Yes there was one thing good and it was Edip Akbayram's song; but even that couldn't help the movie not to suck