Biyograficim
Issız Adam

Alone (Issız Adam)

Movie · 2008 · 9 people

Çağan Irmak wrote and directed Issız Adam (Alone), a Turkish romantic drama made in 2008. Its title is a triple wordplay: it can mean "abandoned man", "my deserted island" (ada means island) and "my lonely Ada", after the female lead. The film opened on 7 November 2008 and drew strong Turkish interest, reaching 2.765 million viewers in its 15th week and about 2.84 million overall. It won the Best Film award at the 2009 Rhode Island Film Festival and returned to Turkish cinemas on 27 June 2025.

The story begins with a chance meeting in a bookshop. Alper is a well-off chef who owns his own restaurant; his one passion is old records, and he has never known love. Ada is lively, clever and socially strong yet withdrawn, and she makes her living sewing children's costumes in a small Beyoğlu shop. What blooms between them at first sight pulls both into years of drama. The film uses this love to show how modern life isolates people. Melis Birkan and Cemal Hünal lead, with Yıldız Kültür.

Shot over five weeks, the film leans on Turkish pop songs of the 1970s and nods to Yeşilçam romances such as Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım. It was Irmak's second film that year.

DirectorÇağan Irmak

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Cast

Aslı Aybars Aslı Aybars Actor · 54 years old Cemal Hünal Cemal Hünal Actor · 50 years old Goncagül Sunar Goncagül Sunar Actor · 56 years old Gözde Kansu Gözde Kansu Actor · 46 years old Melis Birkan Melis Birkan Actor · 42 years old Necla Fide Necla Fide Actor · 68 years old Tarık Ündüz Tarık Ündüz Actor · 38 years old Yıldız Kültür Actor · 81 years old Veda Yurtsever Veda Yurtsever Actor · 57 years old

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Through different eyes

Yeşilçam Nostalgic A viewer raised on the classics, looking for warm storytelling and strong acting.

Issız Adam is one of the rare films that rebuilds the longing for Yeşilçam's love stories in present-day Beyoğlu. Its nods to classics such as Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım and its Turkish pop songs of the 70s turn it into something close to a keepsake album for my generation. The story of a man devoted to old records and a woman who sews children's costumes is sad yet graceful. Melis Birkan's warmth carries the film on her shoulders. Only, Alper's coldness sometimes pushes the viewer away too; the heroes of the classics had their flaws but were easier to love.

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

In Issız Adam, Çağan Irmak brings his own habits of emotional storytelling to their most controlled form. Even the triple pun in the title sums up a structure built on loneliness. A relationship that begins with a chance encounter becomes an observation of how modern city life isolates people. The 70s pop songs and Yeşilçam references are used with sincerity rather than irony, which gives the film warmth and, at times, sentimentality. The contrast between Melis Birkan and Cemal Hünal works well. Its weak spot is a second half that slips into emotional repetition, with some scenes pushed higher by the music than they need. Even so, it holds a carefully made place among Turkish melodramas of the 2000s.

Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

Honestly, Issız Adam isn't my kind of film. The pace is very slow and it rests largely on two people's conversations and quiet moments. There's no tension and no action. But the chemistry between the leads is real, and the music keeps the atmosphere strong. If you love romantic drama you'll enjoy it; if you want something fast, pick another film.

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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