Biyograficim
A Tale of Istanbul (Bir İstanbul Masalı)

A Tale of Istanbul (Bir İstanbul Masalı) (translated)

TV Series · 2003–2005 · 27 people

Bir İstanbul Masalı is a romance and drama series produced by TMC and directed by Ömür Atay, with scripts by Gaye Boralıoğlu and Neşe Şen. It began on atv on September 18, 2003, ran for two seasons and ended with its 71st episode on June 23, 2005. The story is adapted from the 1954 film Sabrina.

A love story unfolds between the wealthy Arhan family, who live in a large mansion in Istanbul, and the Kozan family, who live in a small white house built in a corner of the garden for the mansion's servants. Mehmet Aslantuğ plays Selim Arhan, Çetin Tekindor Ömer Arhan, Ozan Güven Demir Arhan, Esra Ronabar Binnur Arhan and Arsen Gürzap Behiye Arhan. On the Kozan side Altan Erkekli plays Cemal, Vahide Perçin Suzan, Yasemin Çonka Çiçek and İsmail Hacıoğlu Ozan; Ahu Türkpençe is Esma Kozan Arhan. Dolunay Soysert plays Derya, İdil Fırat Aylin and Kaan Çakır Necati.

At the 1st Beyaz İnci TV Awards in 2005 the series is listed under best drama series, best actor and best supporting actor in drama, and best music (Kıraç).

DirectorÖmür Atay
Production companyTMC
Networkatv

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Cast

Ahmet Özaslan Ahmet Özaslan Actor · 57 years old Ayfer Dönmez Ayfer Dönmez Actor · 44 years old Dolunay Soysert Dolunay Soysert Actor · 53 years old Derya Esra Ronabar Esra Ronabar Actor · 48 years old Binnur Arhan Kaan Çakır Kaan Çakır Actor · 49 years old Necati Mehmet Aslantuğ Mehmet Aslantuğ Actor · 65 years old Orhan Aydın Orhan Aydın Actor · 65 years old Ozan Güven Ozan Güven Actor · 51 years old Demir Arhan Seda Akman Seda Akman Actor · 48 years old Pelin Selen Uçer Selen Uçer Actor · 43 years old Taner Barlas Taner Barlas Actor · 79 years old Taner Ertürkler Taner Ertürkler Actor · 54 years old Vahide Perçin Vahide Perçin Actor · 61 years old Suzan Kozan Çetin Tekindor Çetin Tekindor Actor · 81 years old Ömer Arhan İdil Fırat İdil Fırat Actor · 54 years old Aylin Algı Eke Algı Eke Actor · 41 years old Ahu Türkpençe Ahu Türkpençe Actor · 49 years old Esma Kozan Arhan Emre Karayel Emre Karayel Actor · 54 years old Zekeriya Serkan Ercan Actor · 51 years old Sercan Yasemin Çonka Yasemin Çonka Actor · 54 years old Çiçek Kozan İsmail Hacıoğlu İsmail Hacıoğlu Actor · 40 years old Ozan Kozan Bahar Yanılmaz Bahar Yanılmaz Actor · 46 years old İpek Altan Erkekli Altan Erkekli Actor · 70 years old Cemal Kozan Zerrin Tekindor Zerrin Tekindor Actor · 62 years old Psikolog Deniz Hanım Nihat İleri Nihat İleri Actor · born 1955 Teacher Tuğrul Erdem Akakçe Erdem Akakçe Actor · born 1976 Evrim Alasya Evrim Alasya Actor · 47 years old

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Through different eyes

Cinephile Looks at script, editing and directing choices; keeps a distance from formula films.

Bir İstanbul Masalı is adapted from the 1954 film Sabrina, which gives the story weight but also reduces the room for surprise. The spatial contrast between the mansion and the small white house in the garden is the most effective idea in building the love story visually. The strong side of Gaye Boralıoğlu and Neşe Şen's script is showing class difference through space. The weak side: stretching a known love triangle over 71 episodes. Still, a well-built melodrama. Being an adaptation still limits the story's novelty.

History & Society Lens Asks about the period, the social background and what the work reflects.

The love between the Arhan family, owners of the mansion, and the Kozan family, living in the servants' house in a corner of the garden, shows how class difference is written into space in Turkey. The mansion and its service relationship reflect a social order inherited from the past. That the series drew no notable interest in Greece but was broadcast in Arabic suggests the story does not hold the same pull in every society. Turning Istanbul into a fairy-tale stage may outweigh realism. That is the fairy tale's charm as well as its limit.

Series Binger A series devotee tracking character arcs, cast chemistry and season pacing.

The Arhan cast headed by Mehmet Aslantuğ and Çetin Tekindor, and the Kozan side with Altan Erkekli, give both families a balanced ensemble look. 71 episodes over two seasons is an ideal length for this kind of love series: the story ends without bloating. Being listed at the Beyaz İnci awards for best series, actor and music also backs up the cast and music working together. The weak side is that a fairy-tale love story is predictable; watch it for atmosphere more than surprise.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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