Propaganda

Propaganda is a 1999 Turkish comedy-drama directed by Sinan Çetin, who co-wrote the screenplay with Gülin Tokat. Inspired by a real event from 1948, the film follows a sleepy village in southeastern Turkey that is split in two by barbed wire when the border between Turkey and Syria is officially drawn. Filming took place in the village of Yalman in Aksaray, and the music was composed by Sezen Aksu.

At the heart of the story are Mehdi, who returns to his hometown as a customs officer tasked with defining the border, and the family of his childhood friend Rahim. As villagers lose friendships, loves, and faith to the dividing line, the film portrays lives shattered by political games in a tragicomic tone. It was the final film of beloved comedian Kemal Sunal and the only one in which he appeared alongside his son Ali Sunal. The cast also includes Metin Akpınar, Meltem Cumbul, and Rafet El Roman. The film won the Golden Goblet at the 4th Shanghai International Film Festival and competed at the 18th Istanbul International Film Festival.