The Butterfly’s Dream (The Dream of a Butterfly, Kelebegin Rüyasi) 
Turkey
2013
Opening 21 Feb 2013
Directed by:
Yilmaz Erdogan
Writing credits:
Yilmaz Erdogan
Principal actors:
Kivanç Tatlitug, Belcim Bilgin, Mert Firat, Farah Zeynep Abdullah, Yilmaz Erdogan
The Butterfly's Dream takes place in a town on the Black Sea in Turkey in the early 1940s. A new law has led to the conscription of most of the men into hard labor in the mines. In spite of all the misery in their country, two lively young men Rustu (Mert Firat) and Mustaffer (Kivanc Tatlitug) dream only of one day seeing their poems published in the renowned literary magazine Varlik. Without money for a typewriter or even paper, the are encouraged by their mentor – their former teacher – played by director/actor/poet Yilmaz Erdogan.
Both Rustu and Mustaffer fall in love with Suzan (Belcim Bilgin), a schoolgirl who is still under the watchful eye of her father. The two men compete playfully for her attention with their poetry. As Rustu's tuberculosis becomes very advanced and Mustaffer contracts the disease, Suzan is forbidden to see them. Although they are both finally admitted to a sanatorium, they eventually decide to leave. Life is a struggle. They love nature and beauty, but are always aware that their TB will cut their lives short and so they concentrate on living life “for the moment.” Erdogan continues to contrast gentle music and beautiful poetry with the very harsh scenes of everyday life in Turkey at the time. (Thelma Freedman)
