Summary

Documents the daily life struggle for survival by tens of thousands of rural Turkish immigrants who make their home in 1 Mayis Mahalllesi, a squatter's shanty-town on the outskirts of Istanbul, and their march on Istanbul to prevent the government from demolishing their home. (parahrapsed from Kathleen Modrowski) Işıtan’s documentary displays the conflict between the neighborhood residents and the police, with graphic images of violence. It uses a voice-over narration with a dramatic tone describing the events and Turkish folk singer Hakkı Bulut’s song—Gecekondu [Shantytown] (1978). The end of the film declares that it is dedicated to Hasan Kızılkaya murdered on September 2, 1978. It is highly likely that Işıtan’s film is the only surviving film of the People’s Cinema Group. (via the Amateur Cinema Project)