Varia

From the fifties to the eighties the film industry in Istanbul was buzzing. Dracula, Tarzan, Superman, Turkish Tarkan heroes and nefarious villains Kilink had mind-blowing adventures on the banks of the Bosphorus. It was a tough business in which directors sometimes worked on several films at the same time, with crazy shooting schedules and no respect for copyright. Besides comedy and drama, it was mainly comic book adaptations, westerns, masked heroes, historical adventure series and movies that brought the Turkish public to the cinema en masse. What was successful was repeated. Sequels, series, and vehicles for stars were numerous. Not only were their own productions copied abroad but many overseas hits were carbon copied in Turkey. The Turkish James Bond, Tarzan or Rambo, a rip-off of The Exorcist, ET or Star Wars: it was a free for all. This golden period of Turkish popular cinema came to an end when the military took power in 1980. By this time, the production system was putting out ever worse trash films, and the public has long lost interest in going to see such films.

The full evening programme consists of a delicious double bill of two extravagant films at the height of the seventies film wave. Each film is preceded by a nice bonus: a 24 minute documentary and perfect introduction to the exotic world of popular Turkish cinema (for "The Deathless Devil"), and a 15-minute selection of the most outrageous trailers and film clips (for "Tarkan vs. the Vikings").

In cooperation with MOOOV Film Festival & Offscreen / / Thanks to Mondo Macabro

High jinks are the order of the day in this Turkish B-movie in which our masked hero Copperhead is dressed as a Mexican wrestler. He’s trying to prevent Doctor Satan’s ingenious attempt at world domination using cardboard robots. Istanbul’s shortest skirts and a sidekick who is hopelessly overacting are his only support. Doctor Satan (pronounced "Doktar Sheitan") is a tough Turk with the most impressive moustache EVER. However, he must pass for a Chinese genius by showcasing his maniacal laugh and button-pushing abilities from an ugly basement. The amateurish picture is peppered with brutal fight scenes and ridiculous dialogues, but is brimming with captivating, boisterous energy.

The fearless warrior Tarkan is up against the Vikings when they arrive with their cardboard sailing ship on the Turkish Riviera. Prepare yourself for an insane spectacle, where acting talent remains hidden under crooked blond wigs and plastic Viking helmets, and in which a chained Tarkan is sacrificed to a giant octopus as the ominously swelling music tries to obscure that it is merely a rubber monster that clumsily floats in the pleasant rippling water of the Mediterranean Sea. Based on a well-known comic book series, at first the film seems intended for a young audience, but the many topless scenes make it a schizophrenic and highly entertaining film.

A few weeks only separate this ’Open Screen’ from its previous edition. The occasion not to slacken on the resolutions you won’t certainly miss by the end of April. “What about shooting a movie of no more than 15 minutes in a reasonable format to be screened uncensored on the silver screen of the Nova? Hmm, that would be pretty cool… I must still remember to submit it one week before the event to 14 rue d’Arenberg, 1000 Brussels to be announced on the website. Oh yes, and ensure to enclose full specifications including my details! Cool, good stuff, that’s just what I’ll do! I will even do it to people’s likings”. And if it isn’t, it will be screened all the same!

Graduated in design and interior design, Ognev Vlaminck is the founder of ’Maximalisme’, a new artistic movement using society’s waste for artistic purposes opening ways to re-think consumption and recycling by the means of artistic communication strategies. You have surely come across his creations in a street corner in Ixelles, such as the nesting boxes made of VHS tapes or the ice letters placed anonymously in Square Flagey last winter. In a more avant-garde artistic approach, he has also created a bed base made with Coke plastic bottles, ceilings made of old video tapes or with the same type of equipment, flowerpots, furniture… or more recently an ecological greenhouse made of recycled materials. This time around, Ognev takes over Nova’s foyer!

The Microboutiek, madam, is a distribution hub for books, CDs, fanzines, DVDs, K7 and other desktop publishing items. You can come discover the many rarities that arrive or drop off your creations, Microboutiek is powered by its own public. Don’t hold back!

For once, this summer Nova will not take its portable projector and screen to scout around Brussels. Not that last year’s adventures (last minute interdictions, abundant rain…) have put us down, but the need to rest mustn’t be ignored. However, Nova will not wait until September to reopen its doors and will propose during several weekends, late July and early August, true summer nights… indoors. Stay put!