Safar Barlek

First of all, I am making this review as a cinephile who is an expert on the history of the Middle East. I tried to complete all the episodes by trying my patience, but I must admit that I had a very difficult time!

Although cinematographically exaggerated, a certain effort was made.

Apart from that, especially the character of Fahreddin Pasha is constructed as an antihero who does not fit the reality at all, very remote from being even close to objectivity and is completely in line with the current political indoctrination of the country.

Although I don't have any experience in that, I'm sure similar dramas can be found in North Korean movie industry.

The series "Safar Barlek" (2023) did not meet my expectations. First of all, the script lacked depth and was full of clichés. The storyline was extremely predictable, and the characters were flat and uninteresting. The direction followed an ordinary line rather than offering creative solutions that would increase the impact of scenes and dialogues. The acting performances, unfortunately, could not rise above mediocrity; most of the actors could not bring enough credibility to their roles. The tempo problems were also noticeable throughout the series, many scenes were unnecessarily extended and progressed at a slow pace that could bore the viewer. In general, "Safar Barlek" is unfortunately not a production worth watching. This series will be a big disappointment for viewers looking for deep storytelling or strong character development. It also has little to do with history... a movie that reeks of racism...

A Historical Disaster

I've seen a lot of bad television in my time, but this series takes the cake. It's a historical travesty that somehow managed to combine misleading plotlines, glaring inaccuracies, and painfully wooden acting into one catastrophic package.

The show's creators seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of the time period they're attempting to portray. Historical events are twisted into unrecognizable shapes, characters are given motivations that defy logic, and important details are either completely omitted or grossly exaggerated. It's as if they consulted a child's coloring book for their research.

The acting is equally atrocious. The leads are so devoid of charisma that you'd be hard-pressed to remember their names five minutes after watching. They deliver their lines with all the emotion of a cardboard cutout, making it nearly impossible to invest in their stories. The supporting cast isn't much better, with many performances bordering on parody.

But perhaps the most egregious offense is the show's blatant disregard for historical accuracy. The costumes, sets, and props are often laughably inaccurate, and the dialogue is filled with anachronisms that would make a time traveler cringe. It's clear that the creators were more concerned with creating a visually appealing spectacle than with telling a historically accurate story.

In conclusion, this series is a complete waste of time. It's a disrespectful insult to the history it purports to represent, and it's a painful reminder that even talented people can make terrible choices. Avoid it at all costs.

Historical documents and sources confirm that Fahrettin Pasha and the Ottoman soldiers under his command put up a great resistance to defend the holy lands against the British and their supporters. While the series "Safar Berlik" addresses the events in the Hejaz region during the late period of the Ottoman Empire, the distortion of these historical events to emphasize Arab nationalism and portray all Arab Muslims as being against the Ottomans is far from historical accuracy. On the contrary, many Arab Muslims, especially the people of Medina and its surroundings, resisted the British alongside the Ottoman army. The presentation of such a narrative in the series creates a misleading perception of history among viewers and oversimplifies the complex historical dynamics of the region. It is common for dramatic productions to approach historical events from a single perspective, but it is important for viewers to research historical facts and seek information from various sources to recognize such distortions.

This series shows a blatant disregard for historical accuracy, aiming to distort the past and tarnish the reputation of historical figures. A striking example of this is the incorrect use of Turkish flags from the Republic era, placed in an entirely irrelevant context. Such a mistake underscores the shallowness of the production. By misrepresenting history and deceiving the audience, the series not only disrespects our cultural heritage but also insults the intelligence of its viewers. For these reasons, I believe this series is fundamentally flawed and misleading. Given that our soldiers were clearly working to protect the local population, scenes depicting them attacking civilians with cannons are utterly unacceptable. I consider this to be the worst series I have ever watched.