Muhsin Bey

This movie is definitely the best Turkish movie, and one of the best I've ever seen. Makes you really feel the defeat of old-school man who is one of the last bearers of honor, decency and humanity, against the "emerging markets" people. A very sad story is told in a comedy manner. It's a universal story, not only for Turks, but for everybody.

Muhsin Bey (Sener Sen) is a music producer who actually ran out of business, but still keeping to exist in business, occupying a table in a Turkish cafe as him last place of business. At early 80s arabesk music has its peak in Turkey, where Muhsin strongly resists to produce any arabesk albums. He would make only quality Turk and folk music. He is the only one regularly visiting an old lady who was once a great singer. One day, a guy named Ali Nazik comes from the country, wanting to be a famous singer. Whatever the circumstances are, Muhsin would invest only in quality music.

For me this is the beginning of a new era. One of the best Turkish Films ever made & a mile stone in Turkish film producing. Sener Sen is at one of his best performances ( Eskiya was the other one... ). A film everyone must see before making a decision on the Turkish Cinema...

Muhsin Bey is frequently quoted as being a turning point in Turkish cinema. With some notable exceptions, much of Turkey's movie production up to Muhsin Bey consisted of cheap tear-jerkers, juvenile comedy and remakes of popular foreign movies. While many of these movies still have appeal for Turkish audiences today, it is mainly for nostalgic reasons. Muhsin Bey, in contrast, is an original movie with both comedic and dramatic elements, dealing with social change in a way that is both universal and specific to Turkey.

Muhsin Bey ("Mr. Muhsin") is a music producer/manager in Istanbul in the 70s. At the end of his career, not having "discovered" any talent recently, his finances and credibility are suffering. Using last favors from his many friends in the industry, he sets up a singing competition, promising the winner a contract. Among many applicants is one Ali Nazik, an immigrant to Istanbul from South-eastern Turkey with a wonderful voice. The movie goes on to tell the story of Muhsin Bey and Ali Nazik as they try to make a star out of Ali Nazik, while drawing attention to the change in values and culture of Istanbul as a result of the very large immigration from eastern Turkey.

It is absolutely the best Turkish movie. It shows how arabesque culture impacts the classic art.

If you like a lot the film you watch, you may want to see it again someday. Since I liked it so much, I've seen "Muhsin Bey" twice. But then one day, while I was zapping I saw it on TV. I couldn't move to another channel before seeing "the end" again! Years went by, this situation repeated many times. Even today if I happen to see it somewhere, I watch it till the end. It is a heart warming movie with wonderful actors. I don't believe that there can be a single person who wouldn't admire this story who lived in Istanbul before the 80'ies.It's a perfect mirror to the change this city and the people who live in it went through. Also it's one of the best stories told on "social loneliness".