With a clear acknowledgment towards THE HUNGER GAMES, BIZANS OYUNLARI (THE GAMES OF BYZANTIUM) is a slapstick tale involving a clash of values between the Byzantines and the Mayans. The Byzantines are decadent, indulgent, sexually obsessed; the Mayans are pure, virago-like and keep their innocence intact.
Yet this basic plot-line for Gani Mujde's film is just a peg on which to hang a bawdy tale of sexual exploits, double meanings, intertextual references and other gags; just the kind of techniques that the British used to do with the CARRY ON films. There is plenty of bawdy humor, including one scene where some Byzantine slaves are forced to reveal their manhood to see if they have been sexually damaged through contact with the Mayans; and another sequence where Adonis (Tolgahan Sayisman) simulates sexual climax in a dungeon with a Mayan woman in clear imitation of the famous scene from WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.
The level of humor can be gauged from some of the characters' names, ranging from Kilitorya (Gonca Vuslateri) to Sir Vaivor (Akin Saatçi). All very puerile, it must be admitted, but then BIZANS OYUNLARI does not pretend to be anything else other than a satiric barb at the equally silly American global television hit. In its own modest terms, this film provides more than a few laughs as well as some teeth-clenching puns. Definitely worth a look.
