From hidden gems to cult classics, a journey through Turkish cinema’s most memorable titles on MUBI.
Some films linger long after the credits roll—a scene, a line, or even a fleeting glance etched into memory. Turkish cinema offers many such unforgettable experiences, whether through subtle storytelling or powerhouse performances. Here are standout titles you can stream on MUBI, each leaving its unique mark.
Films from Turkey
Sevmek Zamanı / Metin Erksan, 1965
IMDB: 7.9
Metin Erksan’s 1965 cult classic Sevmek Zamanı (Time to Love) stands out with its philosophical depth, offering something very different from typical love stories. The film begins with Halil, a painter living on an island, falling in love with the portrait of a woman he sees in a mansion he visits. Halil becomes so attached to this abstract idea of love that when he actually meets Meral, the real-life subject of the painting, he insists that only his love for the painting is real. This sparks a range of complex emotions in Meral, leading to an extraordinary and unconventional relationship.
The film delves into the nature of love by exploring concepts like reality versus ideal, and form versus essence. Featuring powerful performances by Müşfik Kenter and Sema Özcan, Sevmek Zamanı has earned its place as one of the unforgettable works of Turkish cinema.
Asiye Nasıl Kurtulur? / Atıf Yılmaz, 1986
IMDB: 7.4
Atıf Yılmaz’s 1986 film Asiye Nasıl Kurtulur? is a powerful social-realist drama adapted from Vasıf Öngören’s play of the same name. Through the character Asiye—played by Müjde Ar—the film vividly portrays the harsh struggle of a woman trying to survive poverty and despair, and her efforts to escape the trap she’s on the brink of falling into. The corrupt system and the manipulative people around her continuously crush Asiye’s hopes for salvation. The film presents a strong critique of the societal position of women and the injustices they endure.
Supported by standout performances from Ali Poyrazoğlu, Hümeyra, and Nuran Oktar, this film is a staple of Turkish cinema. There is also an earlier version of the story from the 1970s, starring Türkan Şoray.
Yaşamın Kıyısında (Auf der anderen Seite) / Fatih Akın, 2007
IMDB: 7.7
Fatih Akın’s 2007 film The Edge of Life is a multi-layered drama connecting Germany and Turkey. The film explores themes such as death, loss, family bonds, the search for identity, and forgiveness, through the intersecting lives of six characters from different generations and backgrounds. The first part focuses on Yeter, a prostitute who becomes involved with Ali, a retired man in Germany, and her daughter Ayten, a political activist who arrives in Germany illegally—along with Ali’s son, Nejat. In the second half, Ayten meets Lotte in Germany, and the story expands to include Lotte’s mother, Susanne, as their journey continues in Turkey.
These characters’ lives, intertwined by fate, are tested by loss and coincidence. Akın explores the clash and reconciliation of different cultures and lifestyles with striking cinematography. The film competed for the Palme d’Or at the 60th Cannes Film Festival and won the award for Best Screenplay.
Katırcılar / Şerif Gören, 1987
IMDB Puanı: 7.2
Şerif Gören’s 1987 film Katırcılar (The Mulesmen) tells the story of three friends—Rüstem, Abdurrahman, and Ramazan—who make a living smuggling tea and tobacco across the border using mules. When they are caught by the gendarmerie, a journalist named Ayşegül, who has come to the village to report on smuggling, accompanies them on a difficult journey to the city for trial. During this journey, the relationships between the smugglers and the journalist deepen, and the film explores how people from different walks of life can come together around a shared fate.
With performances by Ayşegül Aldinç, Kadir İnanır, Necmettin Çobanoğlu, and Halil Ergün, the film offers a stunning visual landscape—especially for those who appreciate snowy scenes. The Mulesmen stands out from the era’s usual ‘rich girl, poor boy’ themes and remains one of the notable films of its time.
Çıplak Vatandaş / Başar Sabuncu, 1985
IMDB Puanı: 7.5
Written and directed by Başar Sabuncu, Çıplak Vatandaş (Naked Citizen- 1985) stars Şener Şen in one of his most memorable roles. The film humorously depicts the story of İbrahim, a civil servant and father of four, who is overwhelmed by economic hardship. In a moment of despair, he runs naked through the streets, shouting the iconic line: “I couldn’t make enough, no matter what I did!” This shocking act quickly garners massive media attention, and İbrahim becomes famous as the “Naked Citizen.”
Offers from advertisers pour in, and his life takes a bizarre turn, highlighting the absurdity of the system. With a tragicomic tone, the film offers sharp social commentary on the economic struggles of the time. Şener Şen’s unforgettable performance deserves special recognition.
Sibel / Guillaume Giovanetti, Çagla Zencirci, 2018
IMDB Puanı: 6.8
Directed by Çağla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti, Sibel (2018) is a poignant drama set in the mountainous Black Sea region. The film follows Sibel, a mute young woman who lives with her father and sister. She communicates using a forgotten whistling language, a tradition from the region. Seen as a bad omen and ostracized by her village, Sibel leads a lonely and harsh life—until one day, she encounters a mysterious fugitive hiding in the forest. This meeting triggers a shift in Sibel’s emotional world and her relationships with others.
Starring Damla Sönmez, Emin Gürsoy, and Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, Sibel explores themes of exclusion, the struggle for communication, and personal liberation. The film premiered at the 2018 Locarno Film Festival and was also screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Tereddüt Çizgisi / Selman Nacar, 2023
IMDB Puanı: 6.6
Written and directed by Selman Nacar, Tereddüt Çizgisi (Hesitation Wound -2023) is a co-production between Turkey, Spain, Romania, and France. The film premiered in the Orizzonti section at the 80th Venice International Film Festival and received ten nominations in nine different categories at the 57th Turkish Cinema Writers Association Awards. The story centers on Canan, an idealistic criminal lawyer, who divides her time between the courthouse and caring for her mother who is on life support.
On the day of the final hearing of her client, who is on trial for murder, Canan faces a critical decision that could change the lives of her mother, the judge, and the defendant. Featuring performances by Tülin Özen, Oğulcan Arman Uslu, Gülçin Kültür Şahin, Vedat Erincin, and Okan Avcı, the film is a quiet yet gripping moral drama.
İki Şafak Arasında/ Selman Nacar, 2021
IMDB Puanı: 7.0
Selman Nacar’s first feature film, İki Şafak Arasında (Between Two Dawns), was released on MUBI even before its theatrical release. Set in an Anatolian town, the film doesn’t follow the familiar trope of intellectuals fleeing city life—instead, it focuses on ordinary people dealing with life in their own hometowns. The story follows Kadir, who is excited to meet the family of the woman he loves, but his plans are disrupted when he learns about a workplace accident at his father’s textile factory.
Tasked with delivering the news to the worker’s family, Kadir finds his values deeply shaken during the process. The film portrays the ethical and emotional dilemmas faced by someone caught between personal and social responsibilities. Between Two Dawns won the Best Film Award at the 39th Turin Film Festival in 2021.
Fikrimin İnce Gülü: Sarı Mercedes / Tunç Okan, 1992
IMDB Puanı: 7.8
Adapted from Adalet Ağaoğlu’s 1976 novel Fikrimin İnce Gülü, the 1992 film Sarı Mercedes (also titled Fikrimin İnce Gülü) is directed by Tunç Okan. It tells the story of Bayram, a Turkish worker living in Germany who dreams of buying a yellow Mercedes with the money he has painstakingly saved. Once he finally buys his dream car, he sets out for his hometown in Anatolia—but the journey proves more emotionally difficult than expected. Along the way, the people he meets and the changes in his hometown confront him with the gap between his dreams and reality.
The yellow Mercedes becomes not just a car, but a symbol of his longings, his identity, and his memories. Bayram is portrayed by İlyas Salman in a deeply moving performance.
Suçlular / Serhat Karaaslan, 2020
IMDB: 7.1
Les Criminels, a short film by Serhat Karaaslan, tells a tense story about an unmarried young couple who check into a hotel, only to get caught in a lie due to local norms. What begins as a seemingly small deceit turns into a psychological trap that escalates tension between the couple. Set almost entirely in a hotel room, the film creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors the characters’ internal struggles. With strong performances by Deniz Altan, Lorin Merhart, Ercan Kesal, and Erdem Şenocak, the film explores the impact of social pressure, lies, and control in a rigid environment. Les Criminels has received several awards for its direction and storytelling.
