UPDATED 1 NOVEMBER 2005

New Gallipoli Film for the 90th Anniversary

The Turkish director, Tolga Örnek, who has previously produced the international documentaries: Atatürk, Mount Nemrud: The Throne of the Gods, and The Hittites, now explores the Gallipoli Campaign, which was not only influential in Turkish history but also instrumental in shaping world history.

Director Tolga Örnek with our own Sam Neill who, together with Jeremy Irons, narrates the film.

The documentary, which is sponsored mainly by Dogus Group which is one of the leading companies in Turkey, is the outcome of a 6-year effort. More than 70 archives in the UK, Germany, France, Russia, Australia, Austria, New Zealand and Turkey have been researched and more than 16 international historians have been consulted to make the film as historically rich and accurate as possible. The film has also been produced with an official association with the Australian War Memorial, Imperial War Museum, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, and the Çanakkale Naval Museum. The film is breaking new ground with its format as well, becoming one of the first documentaries to use the High Definition format and Super 16mm together, and then transferring the whole picture to 35 mm for theatrical release in Turkey, Australia and New Zealand.

The war itself is the only 'enemy' in this film

Tolga Örnek emphasizes that the film focuses on the human aspects of the campaign and portrays the emotions, fears, and sufferings of the ordinary soldiers in the trenches, without any discrimination of religion, language or race. To achieve this they have used thousands of diaries, letters and documents. He also states that many of the previous productions have overlooked the other side and have failed to capture the human dimension within the general structure of the campaign. This is what he says makes the campaign 'an epic': the honor, bravery, and tenacity of all the sides fighting for their countries in a conflict fueled not by hate but by a sense of duty.

Objective Approach

	Filming at the New Zealand Memorial on Chunuk Bair.

The Gallipoli Campaign is being told through the diaries and letters of 2 British, 3 New Zealand, 3 Australian and 2 Turkish soldiers selected from 350 people. The documentary aims to portray the historical importance of Gallipoli based on facts and from the perspectives of the soldiers who are representative for the thousands of soldiers from both sides. Nothing that has not been historically approved by the team of scholars has made it into the film. Historical accuracy was never sacrificed for the sake of dramatic impact. Tolga Örnek, the director, says that after reading a few lines of a letter or a diary the nationality of the soldier becomes irrelevant, and one begins to see the soldier just as a human being, who is describing an experience which is identical for both sides. He can just as easily be a Turkish as well as an allied soldier. The loss of innocence is evident on both sides despite their different reasons for being there.

International Support

The documentary received immense support from the Australian War Memorial, Imperial War Museum, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, and the Çanakkale Naval Museum. These institutions not only shared their immense collections with the filmmakers, but also assisted in every way they could to make the film the best it could be by providing historical consulting, facilitating contact with the soldiers’ families, organizing the shoots and interviews with their experts, and promoting the film.

International Team

Written and directed by Tolga Örnek, the film is produced by an experienced international team. The producer of the film is Hamdi Döker who has previously produced several successful international films; research coordinator is Dr. Feza Toker, director of photography is Volker Tittel, production designer is Oliver Munch. The film’s voice over talent includes international stars such as Jeremy Irons and Sam Neil, as well as many talented American, Australian, and British actors. Special Effects have been designed by Karl-Heinz Boching, and the film’s original music has been composed by Demir Demirkan. The consultants for the film include the top experts in their field such as: Les Carlyon, Kenan Çelik, Ashley Ekins, Peter Stanley, Peter Hart, Norman Itzkowitz, Robin Prior, Christopher Pugsley, and Nigel Steel. Australian military historian Brad Manera, an expert on costumes and weapons traveled to Turkey during the main shoot to check the historical accuracy of every item and scene that was being filmed as part of the production.

Gallipoli was theatrically released in Turkey on 18 March 2005 for the 90th Anniversary of the Campaign. This was followed by several special screenings around the world: on 13 April at the Imperial War Museum in London; on 18 April at Te Papa The National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington; on 21 April at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.; on 4 May in Heidelberg, Germany; on 6 June in Washington, DC.

Gallipoli is now showing in theatres throughout New Zealand.

Credits

GALLIPOLI

Written, Produced & Directed by: Tolga Örnek
Producers: Hamdi Döker, Burak Örnek
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
With: Sam Neill
Turkish Narration by: Zafer Ergin
Director of Photography: Volker Tittel bvk
Production Designer: Oliver Munck
Original Music Composed and Orchestrated by: Demir Demirkan
Edited by: Maria Zimmerman
Post Production Supervisor: Martin Kreitl
Location Sound: Ismail Karadas
Sound Designer: Monica Tutak
Special Effects: Karl Heinz Bochning
Production Supervisor and Main Researcher: Feza Toker
Turkish Voice Over Director: Sungun Babacan
Distributed by: Özen Film

Related link

Official Gallipoli Film Site (including trailers)
www.gallipoli-film.com