Sardunya (Geranium) is a 2021 film portraying the trials and tribulations of 19-year-old Defne as she spends time with her father in the countryside following his stroke. The film starring İlayda Elif Elhih as Defne and Ali Seçkiner Alıcı as her father was written and directed by Cagil Bocut; his first feature-length film. It was nominated for and won several awards such as at the Istanbul International Film Festival.
Plot 19-year-old Defne is University student in Istanbul. She receives a phone call during her driving exam and learns that her father had a stroke. This leads her to leave Istanbul and return to Urla to live with her father. Both see these difficult times as a good opportunity to mend their relationship. Her sick aunt is staying in the same house with Defne and her father as well, which further complicates the situation at home. Throughout the film, we witness Defne's relationship with her family and the difficulties of the situation that she is in.
Major cast +CharacterActorDefneİlayda Elif ElhihNadirAli Seçkiner AlıcıMariEvren DuyalNurZeyno EracarHarunTansu BiçerGizemAhsen EroğluYaseminİrem Taşdemir Akçan
Awards and nominations +YearOccasionAward - CategoryRecipientResult2021International Istanbul Film FestivalBest Actressİlayda Elif ElhihBest Director of PhotographyOrçun ÖzkılınçSeyfi Teoman Best First Film AwardCagil Bocut, Caglar Bocut, KolorBest Music2021FilmFestival CottbusBest Debut FilmCagil Bocut, Caglar Bocut, Kolor2021Ankara International Film FestivalBest First FilmCagil Bocut, Caglar Bocut, Kolor2021Singapore International Film FestivalSilver Screen Award - Best Director - Asian Feature FilmCagil Bocut, Kolor2022Tirana International Film FestivalBest Debut Film Award2021Malatya International Film FestivalCrystal Apricot Award - Best FilmCagil Bocut2022International Frankfurt Turkish Film FestivalBest ActorAli Seçkiner Alıcı, KolorBest Film - Best CinematographyOrçun Özkılınç, Kolor2021Cinequest San Jose Film FestivalBest First FeatureCagil Bocut, Kolor2022Cinema Jove - Valencia International Film FestivalMoon of ValenciaCagil Bocut2022Beijing International Film FestivalForward Future Award - Most Popular Feature FilmCagil BocutForward Future Award - Best New FilmCagil Bocut2022Izmir International Film and Music Festival
The film also participated in the 2020-2021 Singapore International Film Festival that went from 26 November to 6 December, in the section for first-time and second-time Asian directors, along with 7 other films. In the 22nd International Frankfurt Turkish Film Festival it won in the category of best cinematography. It also won the 2nd Izmir International Film and Music Festival.
Production team +Writer and DirectorCagil BocutProducerCaglar Bocut & Aslı ErdemPhotography DirectorOrçun ÖzkılınçAssistant DirectorGülgün DedeçamArt DirectorOnur YılmazFictionMesut UlutaşAssistant ProducerSusanne MannCostume DesignMeltem GünaydınCastingEzgi BaltaşFestival ConsultantUğur ŞahinMusicOzan TürkyılmazSound DesignUğur AkagündüzColorCenk ErolLightsMurat Can YozgatlıAudio MixingLuis Silva
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Trailers Box Office Türkiye MUBI