As a Turkish-American and someone who has studied Turkish cinema substantially, I have a very biased (but, I believe) accurate view that when it comes to selecting foreign-language films for distribution in the USA Turkish films - as well as Egyptian, Morrocan, and Tunisian films- are seriously overlooked. THE HORSE was released and is available from Kino Video. Like most Ali Ozgenturk films (HAZAL, BAALAYKA) it is a moving film featuring a journey and a family whose life is in desperate turmoil. There is deep symbolism, involving radio announcers and canary cages, which is a standard in not only Ozgenturk's films, but also in those of his mentors, the late Yilmaz Guney and Serif Goren. The Guney/Goren collaboration of YOL, considered by many to be the best Turkish film, is a sterling example of this as well. The streets of Istanbul look no different than the village of the title characters in this film, which illustrates another theme in many Turkish films in that 'paradise,' whether it is Istnabul or Germany, is no different than the 'koy' (village) where you came. I recommend this film, though in many aspects the harsh aspects presented in this film have become the topic of more social awareness in Turkey since this film was made 20 years ago.
