A Dagger Fell into the Sea (Denize Hançer Düştü) (translated)

Denize Hançer Düştü (the title means "a dagger fell into the sea") is the first feature film of Mustafa Altıoklar, made in 1992. Altıoklar directed and produced it and wrote the screenplay with Yasemin Altıoklar and Zühtü Erkan. The 90-minute color film, shot on 35 mm, was produced by Negatif Film. Sitting between drama, epic and experimental modes, it is notable for how stage and everyday life run into each other.

The story follows two actresses who work together in the theater, Deniz and İpek. What happens during the rehearsals and staging of Jean Genet's The Balcony becomes entangled, as in the play itself, with love and lovelessness, desire, sexuality and the passion for power. The cast includes Yasemin Alkaya, Nur Sürer, Zühtü Erkan and Meral Çetinkaya, along with Levent Can, Şoray Uzun, Negehan Dilpak and Ahmet Fuat Onan. Yaman Okay plays the director of the play and Samim Meriç the landlord; Nur Sürer's voice was dubbed by Arsen Gürzap.

Uğur İçbak was the cinematographer, Mete Sakpınar composed the music and Hilmi Güver edited. The film came back from festivals with awards: Altıoklar was named Promising New Director at the 5th Ankara Film Festival in 1993, and İçbak won Best Cinematographer at the 29th Golden Orange Film Festival.