Sometimes credited as:
Yilmaz Guney

(ADANA, Turkey, 1937-1984, PARIS, France)

Birth (location)
1 April 1937
near to Adana, south Anatolien, Turkey

Death (précisions)
9 September 1984
Paris, France. (stomach cancer)

Vrai nom
Yilmaz Pütün
Mini biographie

Güney and his work were almost entirely unknown outside of his Turkish homeland until his 1981 escape from imprisonment in Turkey and his "discovery" the following year at the Cannes Film Festival for his autobiographical screenplay for Yol (1982), the festival's grand prize winner. Born in 1937 in a village near the southern city of Adana, Güney studied law and economics at the universities in Ankara and Istanbul, but by the age of 21 he found himself actively involved in filmmaking. As Yesilcam, the Turkish studio system, grew in strength, a handful of directors, including Atif Yilmaz, began to use the cinema as a means of addressing the problems of the people. Only state-sanctioned melodramas, war films and play adaptations had previously played in Turkish theaters, but these new filmmakers began to fill the screens with more artistic, personal and relevant pictures of Turkish life. The most popular name to emerge from the Young Turkish Cinema was that of Yilmaz Güney. Güney was a gruff-looking young actor who earned the monicker "Cirkin Kral," or "the Ugly King." After apprenticing as a screenwriter for and assistant to Atif Yilmaz, Güney soon began appearing in as many as 20 films a year and became Turkey's most popular actor. More than a screen idol, Güney was a Turk who believed in the Turkish people and their way of life, as well as being personally committed to social change. Although the early 1960s brought some political reform to Turkey, Güney was imprisoned in 1961 for 18 months for publishing a "communist" novel. The country's political situation and Güney's relationship with the authorities only became more tense in the ensuing years. Not content with his star status atop the Turkish film industry, Güney began directing his own pictures in 1965 and, by 1968, had formed his own production company, Güney Filmcilik. Over the next few years, the titles of his films mirrored the feelings of the Turkish people: Umut (1970); Agit (1972); _Acý (1971)_ ; Umutsuzlar (1971). After 1972, however, Güney would spend most of his life in prison. Arrested for harboring anarchist students, Güney was jailed during preproduction on Zavallilar (1975) (completed in 1975), and before completing Endise (1974), which was finished in 1974 by Güney's assistant, Serif Gören. This was a cherished role that Gören would repeat over the next dozen years, directing several scripts that Güney wrote laboriously while behind bars. Released from prison in 1974 as part of a general amnesty, Güney was re-arrested that same year for shooting a judge. During this stretch of incarceration, his most successful screenplays were Sürü (1978) and Düsman (1979), both directed by Zeki Ökten. After escaping from prison in 1981 and fleeing to France, Güney was greeted at the Cannes Film Festival with a Palme d'Or for Yol (1982), again directed by Gören. It was not until 1983 that Güney resumed directing, telling a brutal tale of imprisoned children in his final film, Duvar (1983), made in France with the cooperation of the French government. At that point, Güney's name was unspeakable in his homeland; eleven of the films he directed or appeared in were confiscated and reportedly burned to ashes; even so much as writing about Güney was forbidden. Despite the great international success of YOL and DUVAR, Güney was ultimately a Turkish director for the Turkish people; his final separation from his home audience must have been even more painful to endure than his years of imprisonment.

mini biographie signée
Daniel Yates (french.imdb.com)

Marié(e) à
Fatoþ Güney (1970 - 9 September 1984) (his death)

1 child : Nebahat Çehre (1967 - ?)

Anecdotes

Education: Ankara University (law); Istanbul University (economics)

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 405-409. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

An ethnic Kurd, Guney was Turkey's most popular actor before he became a director. As his films got more political, he came under the scrutiny of Turkish authorities and was jailed several times for various political offenses. In the late 1970s he was convicted, in a very controversial trial, of murder and received a long prison sentence. He escaped from prison in 1981 and fled to France.


Actor - filmography

1. Zavallilar (1975) .... Abuzer
... autre titre : The Poor (International: English title)
... autre titre : The Suffering Ones
2. Arkadas (1974) .... Azem
... autre titre : Friend (International: English title)
3. Endise (1974) (uncredited) .... Worker sitting front of the truck
... autre titre : Anxiety
4. Agit (1972) .... Cobanoglu
... autre titre : Elegy
5. Sahtekar (1972) .... Bülent Akif
6. Baba (1971) .... Cemal
... autre titre : The Father
7. Çirkin ve cesur (1971)
8. Ibret (1971)
9. Kaçaklar (1971)
10. Namus ve silah (1971) .... Ilyas
11. Umutsuzlar (1971) .... Firat
... autre titre : The Hopeless Ones
12. Vurguncular (1971) .... Cesi
13. Canli hedef (1970) .... Asim Mavzer
... autre titre : Kizim için (Turkey: Turkish title)
... autre titre : Live Target (International: English title)
14. Çifte yürekli (1970) .... Ali
15. Imzam kanla yazilir (1970)
16. Kanimin son damlasina kadar (1970)
... autre titre : The Last Drop of My Blood (International: English title)
17. Onu allah affetsin (1970) .... Osman
18. Piyade Osman (1970) .... Osman
... autre titre : Private Osman (International: English title)
19. Sevgili muhafizim (1970)
20. Seytan kayalari (1970) .... Ali
21. Son kizgin adam (1970)
... autre titre : The Last Angry Man (International: English title)
22. Umut (1970) .... Cabbar
... autre titre : Hope
23. Yedi belalilar (1970)
24. Zeyno (1970) .... Murat
25. Aç kurtlar (1969) .... Serçe Memet
... autre titre : The Hungry Wolves (UK)
26. Belanin yedi türlüsü (1969) .... Zaza Sehmuz
27. Bin defa ölürüm (1969) .... Rifat
28. Bir çirkin adam (1969) .... Bino
29. Çifte tabancali kabadayi (1969) .... Rifat
30. Güney ölüm saçiyor (1969) .... Güney
31. Kan su gibi akacak (1969) .... Ali
... autre titre : Blood Will Flow (International: English title)
32. Kursunlarin kanunu (1969)
33. Aslan Bey (1968) .... Aslan
34. Azrail benim (1968) .... Büyük Örfi
35. Beyoglu canavari (1968) .... Kadir
36. Can pazari (1968) .... Ilyas
... autre titre : Öleceksin (Turkey: Turkish title: alternative title)
37. Kardesim benim (1968)
38. Kargaci Halil (1968) .... Halil
39. Marmara Hasan (1968) .... Marmara Hasan
40. Öldürmek hakkimdir (1968) .... Nazif
41. Pire Nuri (1968) .... Pire Nuri
42. Seyyit Han (1968) .... Seyyit
... autre titre : Bride of the Earth (UK)
... autre titre : Topragin gelini (Turkey: Turkish title: alternative title)
43. At hirsizi Banus (1967)
... autre titre : Banus, the Horse Thief (International: English title)
44. Balatli Arif (1967) .... Arif
45. Bana kursun islemez (1967)
46. Benim adim Kerim (1967) .... Kerim
... autre titre : My Name Is Kerim (International: English title)
47. Büyük cellatlar (1967) .... Samil
48. Çirkin kral affetmez (1967)
... autre titre : The Ugly King Doesn't Forgive (USA)
49. Eskiya celladi (1967)
50. Ince Cumali (1967) .... Cumali
51. Kizilirmak-Karakoyun (1967) .... Ali Haydar
... autre titre : Red River, Black Sheep (International: English title)
52. Kozanoglu (1967) .... Kozanoglu Hüseyin
53. Kuduz Recep (1967) .... Recep
54. Kurbanlik katil (1967) .... Mustafa
... autre titre : The Murderer Is the Victim (International: English title)
55. Seytanin oglu (1967) .... Kazým
56. Anasi yigit dogurmus (1966) .... Kerimo
57. Arslanlarin dönüsü (1966) .... Gökcen
58. At avrat silah (1966) .... Yusufcuk
... autre titre : Horse, Woman and Gun (International: English title)
59. Bomba Kemal (1966) .... Kemal
60. Çirkin Kral (1966) .... Çirkin Kral
... autre titre : The Ugly King (USA)
61. Esrefpasali (1966) .... Kudret
62. Hudutlarin kanunu (1966) .... Hidir
... autre titre : Border Law (International: English title)
63. Kibar haydut (1966)
... autre titre : Yalniz adam (Turkey: Turkish title)
64. Kovboy Ali (1966) .... Ali
65. Silahlarin kanunu (1966)
... autre titre : Law of the Guns (International: English title)
66. Tilki Selim (1966) .... Tilki Selim
67. Ve silahlara veda (1966)
68. Yedi dagin aslani (1966) .... Gökcen
69. Yigit yarali olur (1966) .... Yusuf
70. Ben öldükçe yasarim (1965) .... Ahmet
... autre titre : I Live as Long as I Die (International: English title)
71. Beyaz atli adam (1965)
... autre titre : The Man with White Horse (International: English title)
72. Daglarin oglu (1965) .... Yilmaz
... autre titre : Son of the Mountains (USA)
73. Davudo (1965) .... Davudo
74. Gönül kusu (1965)
75. Haracima dokunma (1965) .... Osman
76. Kahreden kursun (1965) .... Yilmaz
77. Kan gövdeyi götürdü (1965)
78. Kanli bugday (1965)
... autre titre : The Bloody Wheat (International: English title)
79. Kasimpasali (1965) .... Recep
80. Kasimpasali Recep (1965) .... Recep
81. Konyakçi (1965) .... Konyakçi
82. Korkusuzlar (1965)
... autre titre : The Fearless Ones (International: English title)
83. Krallar krali (1965) .... Murat
... autre titre : King of the Kings (International: English title)
84. Sayili kabadayilar (1965) .... Osman
85. Silaha yeminliydim (1965)
86. Sokakta kan vardi (1965)
... autre titre : The Street Was Bloody (International: English title)
87. Tehlikeli adam (1965)
... autre titre : The Dangerous Man (International: English title)
88. Torpido Yilmaz (1965) .... Yilmaz
89. Üçünüzü de mihlarim (1965) .... Yilmaz
90. Yarali kartal (1965)
... autre titre : The Wounded Eagle (International: English title)
91. Halime'den mektup var (1964)
92. Her gün ölmektense (1964) .... Bekir
93. Kamali Zeybek (1964) .... Kamali Zeybek
94. Kara Sahin (1964) .... Sahin
95. Kocaoglan (1964) .... Kemal
96. Koçero (1964) .... Koçero
97. Mor defter (1964) .... Suphi
... autre titre : The Purple Notebook (International: English title)
98. On korkusuz adam (1964) .... Konyakçi
... autre titre : Ten Fearless Men (International: English title)
99. Prangasiz mahkumlar (1964)
... autre titre : The Convicts Without Fetters (International: English title)
100. Zimba gibi delikanli (1964)
101. Ikisi de cesurdu (1963) .... Ali Duran
... autre titre : Both Were Brave (USA)
102. Dolandiricilar sahi (1961)
... autre titre : King of the Swindlers (International: English title)
103. Tatli bela (1961)
... autre titre : The Sweet Calamity (International: English title)
104. Tütün zamani (1959) .... Cemal
... autre titre : The Tobacco Season (International: English title)
105. Alageyik (1958) .... Halil
... autre titre : The Fallow Deer (International: English title)
106. Bu vatanin çocuklari (1958)
... autre titre : This Land's Children (International: English title)

Writer - filmography

1. Duvar (1983)
... autre titre : Güney's The Wall
... autre titre : Mur, Le (France)
... autre titre : The Wall
2. Yol (1982)
... autre titre : Permission, La
... autre titre : The Way
3. Düsman (1979)
... autre titre : The Enemy (International: English title)
4. Sürü (1978)
... autre titre : The Herd (USA)
... autre titre : Troupeau, Le (France) [fr]
5. Sürgün (1976) (screenplay Ikisi de Cesurdu)
6. Bir gün mutlaka (1975)
... autre titre : Certainly One Day (International: English title)
7. Izin (1975)
... autre titre : Permission (International: English title)
8. Zavallilar (1975)
... autre titre : The Poor (International: English title)
... autre titre : The Suffering Ones
9. Arkadas (1974)
... autre titre : Friend (International: English title)
10. Endise (1974)
... autre titre : Anxiety
11. Agit (1972)
... autre titre : Elegy
12. Baba (1971)
... autre titre : The Father
13. Çirkin ve cesur (1971)
14. Ibret (1971)
15. Kaçaklar (1971)
16. Umutsuzlar (1971)
... autre titre : The Hopeless Ones
17. Vurguncular (1971)
18. Canli hedef (1970)
... autre titre : Kizim için (Turkey: Turkish title)
... autre titre : Live Target (International: English title)
19. Imzam kanla yazilir (1970)
20. Piyade Osman (1970)
... autre titre : Private Osman (International: English title)
21. Sevgili muhafizim (1970)
22. Seytan kayalari (1970)
23. Umut (1970)
... autre titre : Hope
24. Yedi belalilar (1970)
25. Aç kurtlar (1969)
... autre titre : The Hungry Wolves (UK)
26. Belanin yedi türlüsü (1969)
27. Bin defa ölürüm (1969)
28. Bir çirkin adam (1969)
29. Azrail benim (1968)
30. Kardesim benim (1968)
31. Kargaci Halil (1968)
32. Pire Nuri (1968)
33. Seyyit Han (1968)
... autre titre : Bride of the Earth (UK)
... autre titre : Topragin gelini (Turkey: Turkish title: alternative title)
34. At hirsizi Banus (1967)
... autre titre : Banus, the Horse Thief (International: English title)
35. Bana kursun islemez (1967)
36. Benim adim Kerim (1967)
... autre titre : My Name Is Kerim (International: English title)
37. Çirkin kral affetmez (1967)
... autre titre : The Ugly King Doesn't Forgive (USA)
38. Seytanin oglu (1967)
39. Arslanlarin dönüsü (1966)
40. At avrat silah (1966)
... autre titre : Horse, Woman and Gun (International: English title)
41. Burçak tarlasi (1966)
... autre titre : The Vetch Field (International: English title)
42. Esrefpasali (1966)
43. Hudutlarin kanunu (1966)
... autre titre : Border Law (International: English title)
44. Tilki Selim (1966)
45. Yedi dagin aslani (1966)
46. Kasimpasali (1965)
47. Kasimpasali Recep (1965)
48. Konyakçi (1965)
49. Krallar krali (1965)
... autre titre : King of the Kings (International: English title)
50. Her gün ölmektense (1964)
51. Kamali Zeybek (1964)
52. Koçero (1964)
53. Prangasiz mahkumlar (1964)
... autre titre : The Convicts Without Fetters (International: English title)
54. Ikisi de cesurdu (1963)
... autre titre : Both Were Brave (USA)
55. Ölüme yalniz gidilir (1962) (screenplay)
56. Yaban gülü (1962)
... autre titre : The Wild Rose (International: English title)
57. Karacaoglan'in kara sevdasi (1959)
58. Alageyik (1958)
... autre titre : The Fallow Deer (International: English title)
59. Bu vatanin çocuklari (1958)
... autre titre : This Land's Children (International: English title)

Director - filmography

1. Duvar (1983)
... autre titre : Güney's The Wall
... autre titre : Mur, Le (France)
... autre titre : The Wall
2. Yol (1982) (by proxy Serif Gören)
... autre titre : Permission, La
... autre titre : The Way
3. Düsman (1979) (by proxy Zeki Ökten)
... autre titre : The Enemy (International: English title)
4. Zavallilar (1975)
... autre titre : The Poor (International: English title)
... autre titre : The Suffering Ones
5. Arkadas (1974)
... autre titre : Friend (International: English title)
6. Endise (1974)
... autre titre : Anxiety
7. Agit (1972)
... autre titre : Elegy
8. Aci (1971)
... autre titre : Pain
9. Baba (1971)
... autre titre : The Father
10. Ibret (1971)
11. Kaçaklar (1971)
12. Umutsuzlar (1971)
... autre titre : The Hopeless Ones
13. Vurguncular (1971)
14. Yarin son gundur (1971)
15. Canli hedef (1970)
... autre titre : Kizim için (Turkey: Turkish title)
... autre titre : Live Target (International: English title)
16. Piyade Osman (1970)
... autre titre : Private Osman (International: English title)
17. Umut (1970)
... autre titre : Hope
18. Aç kurtlar (1969)
... autre titre : The Hungry Wolves (UK)
19. Bir çirkin adam (1969)
20. Pire Nuri (1968)
21. Seyyit Han (1968)
... autre titre : Bride of the Earth (UK)
... autre titre : Topragin gelini (Turkey: Turkish title: alternative title)
22. Bana kursun islemez (1967)
23. Benim adim Kerim (1967)
... autre titre : My Name Is Kerim (International: English title)
24. At avrat silah (1966)
... autre titre : Horse, Woman and Gun (International: English title)

Producer - filmography

1. Yol (1982) (co-producer)
... autre titre : Permission, La
... autre titre : The Way
2. Düsman (1979) (producer)
... autre titre : The Enemy (International: English title)
3. Sürü (1978) (producer)
... autre titre : The Herd (USA)
... autre titre : Troupeau, Le (France) [fr]
4. Bir gün mutlaka (1975) (producer)
... autre titre : Certainly One Day (International: English title)
5. Izin (1975) (producer)
... autre titre : Permission (International: English title)
6. Zavallilar (1975) (producer)
... autre titre : The Poor (International: English title)
... autre titre : The Suffering Ones
7. Arkadas (1974) (producer)
... autre titre : Friend (International: English title)
8. Endise (1974) (producer)
... autre titre : Anxiety
9. Agit (1972) (producer)
... autre titre : Elegy
10. Ibret (1971) (producer)
11. Vurguncular (1971) (producer)
12. Umut (1970) (producer)
... autre titre : Hope
13. Aç kurtlar (1969) (producer)
... autre titre : The Hungry Wolves (UK)
14. Bir çirkin adam (1969) (producer)
15. Pire Nuri (1968) (producer)
16. Seyyit Han (1968) (producer)
... autre titre : Bride of the Earth (UK)
... autre titre : Topragin gelini (Turkey: Turkish title: alternative title)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director - filmography

1. Dolandiricilar sahi (1961) (assistant director)
... autre titre : King of the Swindlers (International: English title)
2. Kizil vazo (1961) (assistant director)
... autre titre : The Red Vase (International: English title)
3. Seni kaybedersem (1961) (assistant director)
... autre titre : If I Lose You... (International: English title)
4. Ölüm perdesi (1960) (assistant director)
... autre titre : The Death Curtain (International: English title)
5. Karacaoglan'in kara sevdasi (1959) (second assistant director)


Editor - filmography
1. Yol (1982)
... autre titre : Permission, La
... autre titre : The Way