The "Kurtulus" (Eng. "Liberation") is the greatest production in Turkish film industry. TRT (Turkish Radio Television Institution), state TV corporation, produced this mini series - or TV movie - with the greatest actors and actresses working in the Turkey's greatest theater companies. Despite Rutkay Aziz (as Mustafa Kemal Pasa), Savas Dincel (as Ismet Pasa), Ayda Aksel (as Halide Edip Hanim), T.P. McKenna (as Lloyd George) and Mahmut Cevher (as Fevzi Pasa) are the leading acting team, the remainder of the cast are doubtless "magnificient" for their realistic acts.
The story begins with the end of Inonu Battle II. England's use of Greece and its people as a war machine is showed from an objective perspective. Turkey's marvelous persistence not to be defeated, while the Greek army approached to Ankara for just 30 miles, is reflecting the character of a nation which starts the destruction of the Britain's Imperialist foreign policy. War scenes, soldiers' map talks and political games in Turkish interior and exterior politics are quite realistic and non-boring.
The cinematography, direction, objectiveness, costumes, art direction and great music compositions are the key elements other than the wonderful cast.
It is a pity that the whole film is in Turkish and is just watched by the Turkish audiences. I just want to make my Greek friends to watch this film. Because, the film itself is just compound of the naked truth of the era. The film emphasizes on the humanist officers in both Turkish & Greek armies. Especially, the conversation between Gen. Trikoupis and Mustafa Kemal Pasa is almost a friend talk in military traditions.
Lloyd George, P.M. of the Great Britain, summarizes the film in the end: "The centuries rarely produce a genius. It is our bad luck that the great genius of our era was granted to the Turkish nation." referring to Mustafa Kemal Pasa.
The film is great. The acts are great. The message of the film is great.
This is all great. 10/10
