International Oscars Race: Turkey Submits Venice Title ‘One of Those Days When Hemme Dies’
Turkey has announced that first-time director Murat Firatoğlu’s “One of Those Days When Hemme Dies” has been selected as the country’s entry for the Academy Awards’ international feature film category.
“One of Those Days When Hemme Dies” was selected from 14 submissions by Turkey’s Oscar committee, comprising representatives from professional associations in the country’s film industry that operates under the Directorate General of Cinema.
The film is a tale of class-based rage and rebellion through the justice-seeking journey of a farmworker named Eyüp who works relentlessly under the blazing sun during a tomato harvest in southeastern Turkey, driven by the urgent need to settle an impending debt. After a clash with his supervisor, he roams the city in search of a radical solution.
“One of Those Days When Hemme Dies” world premiered last year at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the special jury prize in the event’s Orizzonti (Horizons) section. It also won the best film award at Turkey’s Adana Golden Boll Film Festival and scored best film, director and screenplay prizes at the 57th Turkish Film Critics Association Awards.
“The film shows the growing polarization in Turkish society between wealthy investors with smart cars and a very poor working class,” Firatoğlu said in a statement prior to the film’s Venice launch.
“Polarization is definitely a significant issue in Turkey, but it’s not unique to us — it’s happening worldwide,” the director added. “My political stance and background as a lawyer, which is still my main occupation, naturally influence my work as a filmmaker. The film does have a left-leaning perspective, which aligns with my own views. But I think the polarization we’re experiencing is a symptom of a larger global issue. It feels like the world is losing its mind, much like that old comedy, ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy.’”
“One of Those Days When Hemme Dies,” which is self-produced by Firatoğlu, is being distributed internationally by Paris-based sales company Luxbox.
