WHO KILLED THE SHADOWS?

WHO KILLED THE SHADOWS?
(HACİVAT KARAGÖZ NEDEN ÖLDÜRÜLDÜ?), 2005
Türkiye | 35mm, Color, 110’ | Turkish
Director: Ezel Akay
Cast: Haluk Bilginer, Beyazıt Öztürk, Şebnem Dönmez

In the story that takes place in the 14th century, Karagöz has run away from the Mogul taxmen and settled in Bursa. He is a Turkman immigrant who is ignorant but smart, who makes those around him laugh with his words and gestures, especially when he gets angry. As for Hacivat, he’s a postman. An opportunist who is alert, chatty, much fond of debauchery and entertainment. They meet when Hacivat purchases Karagöz’s sick cow. The twosome start to work as stonemasons in the mosque Orhan Gazi is building in his name. However, as they make the construction workers laugh with their bickering, work slows down. Hacivat and Karagöz will meet the sad end with the death decree of Orhan Gazi both for slowing down construction and for taunting others.