We know that Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has many books. But did you know that he wrote a movie script?
Many books have been written and many movies have been made about Atatürk. In particular, the Nutuk, which Atatürk wrote in his own words and tells the story of the War of Independence, is one of the most important sources we use about the War of Independence. But did you know that Atatürk wrote a movie script telling the story of his own life?
Münir Hayri Egeli tells in his work called Atatürk's Unknown Memories… “One day, they called me from Çankaya. When I went to Çankaya, Atatürk was in the library. Atatürk said: “I received a letter from a foreign company. They want to make a film about our revolution. Very nice, but making a film about our revolution should be our job. Think of a scenario. This scenario should show my life, for example, the life of a teacher.”
"Making a film is a technical activity, like flying an airplane. Artistic fire is necessary, but it is not enough, technique is needed. We will send Münir Hayri to Germany, Italy and Russia, he will learn directing, if you do not have the funds, I will pay for it," says the great savior for this young man.
Münir Hayri Egeli did not disappoint Atatürk’s trust. He studied in Germany, Italy and Russia, shot a documentary about Atatürk and then returned home. He began his film career by filming Atatürk’s travels. Münir Hayri Egeli, who also edited Atatürk’s book of speech, began working on the film upon Atatürk’s instruction that it was time. In the scenario called “I am a Child of Revolution”, the main character of the film is a teacher.
Münir Hayri Egeli explains… “In the draft I wrote, the hero was a general. Atatürk himself transformed this character into a teacher with the following sentences in the corrections he made: “The spark that will carry the revolution to future generations will come from teachers. It is more appropriate for the hero to be a teacher. We should correct it accordingly.” Later, Atatürk asked Münir Hayri Egeli, “What else should we add to the script?” Thereupon, Egeli said: “A film also looks for women and love elements. But I don’t know how you would order it?” Atatürk answered this question, “I have experienced love stories too” and told Münir Hayri Egeli about Emine, Hatice, Macedonian Eleni and Naciye. After making some corrections on the film, Münir Hayri Egeli wrote that Atatürk reviewed the scenes and words that belonged to him. Then, Atatürk added the following note under the script: “After the corrections, it will be a very good film and it is essential to remain faithful to the spirit of this script.” Ataturk started this 137-page script in 1927, when he finished Nutuk. In the film, he tells his human side rather than his political personality. After the decision to start shooting was made, Ismail Hakki Tekce was assigned to do the minimum shooting of the film. At the same time, Kenan Bey received instructions from Ataturk about the film, but Ataturk fell ill and the shooting of the film was stopped. The subsequent fate of the film and the script is unknown. Although it was initially thought that the script was in the double-keyed safe in the National Library where Ataturk's private relics were kept, this script was forgotten after Ataturk's death. Although this incident was covered extensively in the book "Unknown Memories of Ataturk" written by Munir Hayri Egeli in 1954, no one pursued it for a long time. In 2008, it was decided to turn this script, which came to the agenda again, into a film. The team that shot the famous Sarızeybek Documentary will be the ones who shot the film. A budget of 10 million liras was allocated for this film. Although the plot of the film is outlined in Münir Hayri Egeli’s memoirs, an original script is needed for the film. The team that volunteered to shoot the film said that this film should be as Atatürk wrote it. They requested the National Library Director of the period, Tuncel Acar, and after obtaining the necessary permissions, they reached the safe in the National Library where Atatürk’s personal relics were kept. Although the original script was searched in this safe, it could not be found. However, they found a note regarding the film that said, “Münir Hayri will personally be busy with the translation of the film. He will go to Germany immediately and work on our script. Hasan Rıza will cover the necessary expenses from me.”
(The original text about the film found among Atatürk's personal relics)
This text was written in Atatürk's own handwriting and proved that the film story was true. Later, no script was found in the research conducted in Çankaya Mansion and Anıtkabir. The script of the film, which we know to be called "I am a Revolution Child" and in which Atatürk himself wrote his own life story, is still lost today. It is not known whether this film, in which Atatürk noted "It is essential to remain faithful to the spirit of this script", will come to the fore again in the coming years. But if it catches the attention of someone and the script is revealed, we will definitely have a film that will arouse the curiosity of millions of people! Emre YÜKSELEN
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