Unfortunately much of the humour in this Atıf Yılmaz masterpiece is lost in translation, many of the stereotypes that are hilarious to witness for the local audience will go right above the heads of the international viewers, fortunately the comedic and dramatic strength of the movie is not limited to such a narrow scope so what's available there for the outsiders looking in, is still plenty enough to enjoy this wonderful movie which has a theatrical play quality to it along with a strong cast (the infallible Duo of Sen and Salman to begin with) and an unlikely love story.
What gives this movie a unique worth is the way it absolutely makes a mockery of the post-military coup Turkey that was in a rapid transformation towards a wild west like economic system, leaving all those behind who weren't smart! (read:shrewd) enough to keep up with the evolving times yet ironically witnessing many of the plagues which killed the Ottoman Empire (the setting of the movie) such as corruption and the facade of morality in an outwardly religious society which is only enforced on the weak and the vulnerable, staying just the same.
The symbolism of the characters is not coincidental either but a deeper analysis will take too much space on what is only meant to be a review of the movie. Still, it should be safe to say that the morally corrupt police chief represents the wayward and abusive authority of the morally bankrupt state, the morally upright whore represents the marginalized urban outcasts trying to survive the times and her "savior" the do-gooder police officer represents the middle class in search of a better tomorrow.
