Yousof va Zolaykha

Yusuf ile Züleyha ('Joseph and Zuleikha') is a Turkish-Iranian co-production, a historical romance drawn from the scriptural story of Joseph. In Turkey it was released by Erler Film, billed on its posters with the subtitle Hazreti Yusuf and advertised as a colour CinemaScope picture. Cüneyt Arkın plays Yusuf and Füruzan plays Züleyha, alongside Iranian performers including Taghi Zohouri, Ali Zandi, Dariush Talayi and Mohammad Abdi.

The credits differ from source to source. Iranian records place the film in 1347 (1968) and name Mehdi Reisfirooz as director and Ebrahim Zamani Ashtiani as screenwriter, while Turkish catalogues and the period posters give a 1970 release, credit Esmail Kushan (Dr. E. Koushan) as director and Mahmoud Kushan as cinematographer. Shooting took place in Iran and the film was prepared in both Persian and Turkish; its running time is given as anywhere between 90 and 102 minutes.

The story follows Yusuf, envied by his brothers and left in a well, carried on to Egypt by a passing caravan. There Züleyha falls in love with him; when he refuses her, a false accusation sends him to prison. His reading of the Pharaoh's dream restores his standing and he rises to govern Egypt. During the years of famine he recognises the brothers who come to beg for grain, and sends his shirt to his father Yakup, who has gone blind from weeping. The film closes with Yakup's sight restored and Yusuf reunited with Züleyha.

The picture drew large audiences in Iran on release, finishing the 1347 season as the second highest-grossing film after Soltan-e Ghalbha.