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The Honest Man (Namuslu)

The Honest Man (Namuslu) (translated)

Movie · 1984 · 9 people

From a screenplay by Başar Sabuncu, Ertem Eğilmez directed Namuslu (The Honest Man), a Turkish comedy from 1984. With a political edge, it humorously examines the order of its time and people's greed for money, a critical look at a changing 1980s Turkish society. It was also Şener Şen's first leading role, the film that moved him from swindlers and immoral types to honest-man parts. Sabuncu's script received a SİYAD award in 1985.

Şen plays Ali Rıza Bey, a cashier of modest means and unbending honesty. While everyone around him schemes for money, he refuses to bend and is scorned for it. One day robbers take a large sum from his workplace, and nobody believes he was attacked. Everyone, even his family, assumes his eyes have finally opened and he has pocketed the money, and their respect for him suddenly soars. Unable to convince anyone, Ali Rıza sees no way but to act as if he stole it.

The cast includes Ayşen Gruda (Naciye), Adile Naşit (the mother-in-law), Erdal Özyağcılar (Mustafa), Bilge Zobu (a contractor), Ergün Uçucu (the general manager) and Levend Yılmaz. It runs 92 minutes, shot in color on 35 mm; Kadir Turgut and Ferit Turgut produced for Uzman Film, with music by Melih Kibar and cinematography by Ertunç Şenkay.

DirectorErtem Eğilmez
Production companyUzman Film
The Honest Man (Namuslu) The Honest Man (Namuslu) The Honest Man (Namuslu) The Honest Man (Namuslu) The Honest Man (Namuslu)

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Cast

Adile Naşit Adile Naşit Film actor · died at 57 Kaynana Ayşen Gruda Ayşen Gruda Actor · died at 74 Naciye Öğün Erdal Özyağcılar Erdal Özyağcılar Actor · 78 years old Mustafa Şener Şen Şener Şen Actor · 84 years old Mutemet Ali Rıza Levend Yılmaz Levend Yılmaz Actor · 77 years old Metin Çekmez Metin Çekmez Actor · died at 76 Butcher Meray Ülgen Meray Ülgen Actor · 85 years old Fehmi Bilge Zobu Bilge Zobu Actor · 94 years old Müteahhit Zihni Küçümen Actor · died at 67 Director Necati

Also in the cast: Ergün Uçucu

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Through different eyes

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

Namuslu is a comedy with a political edge that takes a critical look at a changing 1980s Turkey. Ali Rıza Bey's unbending honesty, in a world where everyone chases money, condemns him to scorn instead of respect. The real irony is that the moment people believe he stole the money, their respect for him soars: a portrait of a society whose values have been turned upside down. Başar Sabuncu's script, which won a SİYAD award in 1985, questions the order of the day and people's greed for money through humor. The shift within his own family is a small but telling mirror of a time when even morality was measured by self-interest.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humor and heart.

Namuslu is a comedy about what happens to an honest cashier. Seeing Şener Şen, Ayşen Gruda and Adile Naşit together is a special treat for the older generation. There is a robbery in the plot, but what matters is what comes after, and the humor. But at its core it is a grown-up satire about money and honesty, so young children may get bored. It is a good film to watch with kids of middle-school age and up and then talk about honesty.

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

Namuslu isn't really my kind of film; there's no action, and the tension is limited to how people react after the robbery. But I'll admit the setup is really clever: once everyone thinks he took the money, Ali Rıza's life flips over, and that idea pushes the film forward. The 92-minute running time is a smart call too. Still, the dialogue-heavy scenes sometimes drag, and the pace feels slow by today's standards.

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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