Original title | Ma Vie de Courgette
Director        | CLAUDE BARRAS

Switzerland, France / 2016 / Colour / 66’ / DCP
French with Turkish subtitle

Screenplay | Céline Sciamma, Gilles Paris
Cast            | Gaspard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat, Paulin Jaccoud

As the first full-length film of the Swiss director Claude Barras, My Life as a Zucchini travelled the four corners of the world, following the premiere held in Cannes Film Festival in 2016; admired by the audience everywhere it screened. The movie is now a guest to Kundura Cinema for a screening held specially for kids and families.

Adapted from the novel titled Autobiographie d’une Courgette of the French writer Gilles Paris, the movie centers around a 9 year old boy. Courgette starts living in an orphanage after his mother’s sudden death. Although he could not get used to the orphanage in the beginning, Courgette makes friends as he witnesses the lives of other orphans like him in time; learns to trust people and found a new family. 

Addressing the difficulties of living in an orphanage partly with an emotional way as well as using humor on the other hand, this stop-motion animation appeals to not only children, but also to adults. In the interview given by the director Barras, he expresses that “Adults cry while watching the movie, feeling a sort of nostalgia on their childhood. Children, on the other hand, leave the movie with questions about future on their minds.”

Director | MICHAEL POWELL, EMERIC PRESSBURGER

UK / 1948 / Colour / 135’ / DCP
English, French, Russian; Turkish sub.

Screenplay | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Cast            | Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer

Directed in 1948 by two remarkable people of an era, Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell, who are also known for their jointly managed production company “The Archers”, The Red Shoes is regarded amongst the most memorable productions in the history of cinema by its scenes way ahead of its time and its poetical style.  Although made in UK,  the movie attained great success in US box offices and became one of the best movies in the history with its box office record over 5 million USD.  

Turned into a screenplay from a tale the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen wrote in 1845 with the same name, this musical drama centers around the story of a ballerina stuck between her art and personal life revolving around devotion, ambition and passion. The young ballerina Victoria, who managed to enroll in the ballet school of worldwide famous Boris Lermontov with the help of her aunt, is portrayed by Moira Shearer in the movie. Shearer is engraved in everyone’s memory with her incomparable performance and body language displayed skillfully throughout the movie. Jack Cardiff’s cinematography challenging its own time, on the other hand, simply crowns this performance which left a trace in the history of cinema.

Acted out by Anton Walbrook as a real idealist and perfectionist, Lermontov kicks out the prima ballerina from the group when she decides to marry, Victoria turns this into a great opportunity: She can be a prima ballerina and have a role in the notable play composed by Julian Craster. However, she falls in love with Julian later on and the couple decides to marry. This time, Victoria is the one who is kicked out from the group and forced to choose between her personal life and the art she is addicted to.

As a piece of art about art in respect of the plot of the movie and astonishing the audience by its sense of rhythm, The Red Shoes received many awards, including but not limited to the Golden Globe for the Best Original Score, Best Art Direction and Best Music Oscar awards.  The movie which became a source of inspiration for many others in the next years, such as the Moulin Rouge and Black Swan, the movie ranks amongst the top 10 in the Best 100 British Movies set by British Film Institute (BFI), together with Great Expectations (David Lean, 1998), Kes (Ken Loach, 1969), The 39 Steps (Alfed Hitchcock, 1935) and Trainspotting (Danny Boyle, 1996). It is said that the impressive story of Victoria has become a source of inspiration for many artists, including the director Martin Scorsese and author Margaret Atwood.

Director  | DAVID LEAN

USA, UK, Italy / 1965 / Colour / 197’ / DCP
English, Russian and French with Turkish sub.

Screenplay | Boris Pasternak, Robert Bolt
Cast             | Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin

As one of the top unforgettable movies in the history of cinema, Doctor Zhivago meets the audience once again. 

Dramatized from the Nobel winning first novel of the author Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago was directed by the famous British director David Lean. Egyptian actor in the leading role, Omar Sharif impresses the audience by his Doctor Zhivago performance, which had a vital role in his international popularity.

The movie with a setting during the civil war period right after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, centers around Yuri Zhivago, both a poet and a doctor, falling in love with the revolutionary leader’s wife (Julia Christie), and the challenges he faces afterwards, being stuck between his life and dreams. Beyond this story of Zhivago, audience witnesses the political dynamics of the revolution process and the social chaos in Moscow. Being a period drama in this sense, Doctor Zhivago draws attention by its memorable scenes, as well as its historical and heroic style. Likewise, Oscars it has won in 1966 for “Best Cinematography”, “Best Art Direction”, and “Best Costume” simply prove this. 

The movie also received the “Best Adaptation Scenario” and “Best Original Music” Oscar awards. The music accompanying the memorable scenes, on the other hand, belong to Maurice Jarre, one of the most remarkable composers when it comes to film soundtracks.    

Director | MICHAEL POWELL, EMERIC PRESSBURGER

UK / 1948 / Colour / 135’ / DCP
English, French, Russian; Turkish sub.

Screenplay | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Cast            | Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer

Directed in 1948 by two remarkable people of an era, Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell, who are also known for their jointly managed production company “The Archers”, The Red Shoes is regarded amongst the most memorable productions in the history of cinema by its scenes way ahead of its time and its poetical style.  Although made in UK,  the movie attained great success in US box offices and became one of the best movies in the history with its box office record over 5 million USD.  

Turned into a screenplay from a tale the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen wrote in 1845 with the same name, this musical drama centers around the story of a ballerina stuck between her art and personal life revolving around devotion, ambition and passion. The young ballerina Victoria, who managed to enroll in the ballet school of worldwide famous Boris Lermontov with the help of her aunt, is portrayed by Moira Shearer in the movie. Shearer is engraved in everyone’s memory with her incomparable performance and body language displayed skillfully throughout the movie. Jack Cardiff’s cinematography challenging its own time, on the other hand, simply crowns this performance which left a trace in the history of cinema.

Acted out by Anton Walbrook as a real idealist and perfectionist, Lermontov kicks out the prima ballerina from the group when she decides to marry, Victoria turns this into a great opportunity: She can be a prima ballerina and have a role in the notable play composed by Julian Craster. However, she falls in love with Julian later on and the couple decides to marry. This time, Victoria is the one who is kicked out from the group and forced to choose between her personal life and the art she is addicted to.

As a piece of art about art in respect of the plot of the movie and astonishing the audience by its sense of rhythm, The Red Shoes received many awards, including but not limited to the Golden Globe for the Best Original Score, Best Art Direction and Best Music Oscar awards.  The movie which became a source of inspiration for many others in the next years, such as the Moulin Rouge and Black Swan, the movie ranks amongst the top 10 in the Best 100 British Movies set by British Film Institute (BFI), together with Great Expectations (David Lean, 1998), Kes (Ken Loach, 1969), The 39 Steps (Alfed Hitchcock, 1935) and Trainspotting (Danny Boyle, 1996). It is said that the impressive story of Victoria has become a source of inspiration for many artists, including the director Martin Scorsese and author Margaret Atwood.

Original title | Ma Vie de Courgette
Director        | CLAUDE BARRAS

Switzerland, France / 2016 / Colour / 66’ / DCP
French with Turkish subtitle

Screenplay | Céline Sciamma, Gilles Paris
Cast            | Gaspard Schlatter, Sixtine Murat, Paulin Jaccoud

As the first full-length film of the Swiss director Claude Barras, My Life as a Zucchini travelled the four corners of the world, following the premiere held in Cannes Film Festival in 2016; admired by the audience everywhere it screened. The movie is now a guest to Kundura Cinema for a screening held specially for kids and families.

Adapted from the novel titled Autobiographie d’une Courgette of the French writer Gilles Paris, the movie centers around a 9 year old boy. Courgette starts living in an orphanage after his mother’s sudden death. Although he could not get used to the orphanage in the beginning, Courgette makes friends as he witnesses the lives of other orphans like him in time; learns to trust people and found a new family. 

Addressing the difficulties of living in an orphanage partly with an emotional way as well as using humor on the other hand, this stop-motion animation appeals to not only children, but also to adults. In the interview given by the director Barras, he expresses that “Adults cry while watching the movie, feeling a sort of nostalgia on their childhood. Children, on the other hand, leave the movie with questions about future on their minds.”

Director | MICHAEL POWELL, EMERIC PRESSBURGER

UK / 1948 / Colour / 135’ / DCP
English, French, Russian; Turkish sub.

Screenplay | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Cast            | Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer

Directed in 1948 by two remarkable people of an era, Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell, who are also known for their jointly managed production company “The Archers”, The Red Shoes is regarded amongst the most memorable productions in the history of cinema by its scenes way ahead of its time and its poetical style.  Although made in UK,  the movie attained great success in US box offices and became one of the best movies in the history with its box office record over 5 million USD.  

Turned into a screenplay from a tale the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen wrote in 1845 with the same name, this musical drama centers around the story of a ballerina stuck between her art and personal life revolving around devotion, ambition and passion. The young ballerina Victoria, who managed to enroll in the ballet school of worldwide famous Boris Lermontov with the help of her aunt, is portrayed by Moira Shearer in the movie. Shearer is engraved in everyone’s memory with her incomparable performance and body language displayed skillfully throughout the movie. Jack Cardiff’s cinematography challenging its own time, on the other hand, simply crowns this performance which left a trace in the history of cinema.

Acted out by Anton Walbrook as a real idealist and perfectionist, Lermontov kicks out the prima ballerina from the group when she decides to marry, Victoria turns this into a great opportunity: She can be a prima ballerina and have a role in the notable play composed by Julian Craster. However, she falls in love with Julian later on and the couple decides to marry. This time, Victoria is the one who is kicked out from the group and forced to choose between her personal life and the art she is addicted to.

As a piece of art about art in respect of the plot of the movie and astonishing the audience by its sense of rhythm, The Red Shoes received many awards, including but not limited to the Golden Globe for the Best Original Score, Best Art Direction and Best Music Oscar awards.  The movie which became a source of inspiration for many others in the next years, such as the Moulin Rouge and Black Swan, the movie ranks amongst the top 10 in the Best 100 British Movies set by British Film Institute (BFI), together with Great Expectations (David Lean, 1998), Kes (Ken Loach, 1969), The 39 Steps (Alfed Hitchcock, 1935) and Trainspotting (Danny Boyle, 1996). It is said that the impressive story of Victoria has become a source of inspiration for many artists, including the director Martin Scorsese and author Margaret Atwood.