Somersault in a Coffin

The story of Mahzun who is an outsider living out on the streets. This docile, slow but gentle character works in a Turkish cafe during the daytime and at nights, he is a professional car burglar. He steals a car, drives around the city all night and in the morning, he brings it back to the spot he had taken it from. He is often in trouble with the police, he has only a few friends. Mahzun falls in love with a heroine addict and everything hidden in him comes out after this... Tabutta Rovasata is a good movie with a strong story, charming characters and good acting..One of the best of 20th century Turkish cinema. Please pay attention to the wonderful music of ' Yansimalar' ...

This work of the Dervis Zaim occupies a special place on most of the world's lists of the best movies from Turkey. There are simply not enough words to describe the quality of this project made with modest budget, which reaches the very top of world art cinematography and which is a film reading for every person who takes film art, in the true sense of the word, seriously. Dervis Zaim is a director who creates the physical into the metaphysical. In this film, he explores the theme of life, friendship, love, innocence and deals with social realism, as the perseverance of simple people notably our Mahsun (Ahmet Ugurlu) a drifter and petty criminal through all life's misfortunes, as his motives that lead him to tomorrow. With his specific technical style, his own camera work and strange, often unrelated sound, he tells his story brilliantly, leading the viewer to the fascinating physical world (Rumelihisari - European side of Istanbul) in which he finally places it.

Somersault in a Coffin / Tabutta rovasata (1996), from the first scene, is an intimate journey of Mahsun and his buddies, As the three men wander around the ancient Istanbul streets, and cinematographer Mustafa Kuscu captures them in slow takes, it's easy to look at the beautiful landscape and its rusting, poisoned objects as a symbol of Turkish tragedy; where everything is forbidden . I found it as a crossover between Combat shock one of my favourite Troma films and Eraqserhead with a Tarkovsky vibe. There are also these brilliant moments where the movie moves into Stalker-esque atmosphere that feels very much like Mircea Daneliuc and Tarkovsky's treatment of Combat Shock (1986) one of my favourite troma movie. Sound plays a key role in the film, water and the peacock lending the film a rhythm and special atmosphere with incredible score by Baba Zula. To say that something deep or multi-layered is common for quality films, but in this film, depth can also be understood visually. It is just an ASTOUNDING movie. Leaves me gobsmacked every time I revisit it.

This is a tale of "The Insulted and Humiliated".

Mahsun (Ahmet Ugurlu) is a homeless man, gentle as he can be, addicted to auto burglary (not for joyriding but for staying alive in freezing Istanbul nights.) and trying to make sense of it all. He makes friends with a heroin addict and a peacock, yes a peacock he stole from the historic Rumelihisari (a historical fortress) and things get complicated and messy. Ahmet Ugurlu plays flawlessly as if he is the real Mahsun. Director makes you witness surreal moments around the fortress and the sea.

With enchanting musics by "Baba Zula" and "Yansimalar" and pristine views from Istanbul city, Somersault in a Coffin takes you on a journey to the life of backstreet people.

If you wanna join their night journey, here's your pick!

An exquisite movie about survival. Perhaps human's biggest mistake is to throw itself into things outside of survival. There was an enormous scene in the film: the Turkish national team beat its rival and the people are throwing themselves in the street, but Mahzun is in the process of spooning the soup. In solving the hunger, in the life of survival. Identity, power, belonging, success, etc. What's so important about surviving?

Turkish Cypriot Director Dervis Zaim made this movie with only a little money, three main players and a few theatre players. It became a new masterpiece after its premiere in 1996. It won 20 awards in Turkey and Out Of Turkey in the countries Canada USA England Germany and also Italy. With its beautiful music, widescreen presentation and also the unforgettable ending, it is the masterpiece of our Cypriot director. Also its DVD is great and there's available english, german and french subtitles. Beautiful unforgettable movie.