Cars of the Revolution (Devrim Arabaları)

Directed by Tolga Örnek, who co-wrote the screenplay with Murat Dişli, this 2008 Turkish drama recounts the true story of Devrim, the first automobile built entirely in Türkiye. After the military coup of 27 May 1960, head of state Cemal Gürsel orders the production of a fully domestic car and assigns the task to the state railways.

Twenty-three engineers set to work at the railway workshop in Eskişehir, with only 130 days until Republic Day to complete the vehicle. Risking their careers and family lives, the team battles the tight deadline, scarce resources and political interference. Yet when the car famously stalls during the ceremony after running out of fuel, their remarkable achievement is unjustly overshadowed in the public eye.

The ensemble cast includes Taner Birsel, Halit Ergenç, Haluk Bilginer, Selçuk Yöntem, Ali Düşenkalkar, Vahide Perçin, Uğur Polat and Serhat Tutumluer, with Sait Genay portraying Cemal Gürsel. The score was composed by Demir Demirkan, with cinematography by Hasan Gergin.