Biyograficim
Zenne Dancer

Zenne Dancer

Movie · 2012 · 11 people

The Turkish drama Zenne was inspired by the story of Ahmet Yıldız, who was shot dead on July 15, 2008 because he was gay. His friends Caner Alper and Mehmet Binay co-directed it, and Alper wrote the screenplay. Known internationally as Zenne Dancer, it was shown at the Antalya International Film Festival in 2011 and opened in Turkish cinemas on January 13, 2012. The title means a male dancer in women's clothing. Its music is by Demir Demirkan and Paolo Poti.

The story brings together three very different people whose paths cross in Istanbul. Erkan Avcı plays Ahmet, the son of a conservative family from the east; Kerem Can plays Can, who works openly as a zenne; and Giovanni Arvaneh plays Daniel, a German photographer. Ahmet cannot obtain a passport without military service, which marks how he is squeezed between family pressure and his own identity. The film deals with coming out, the taboo that equates military service with manhood, and discrimination against LGBT people in Turkey.

In the real case, Ahmet Yıldız's father was suspected, but nobody was held to account for the killing.

DirectorCaner Alper, Mehmet Binay

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Cast

Aykut Kayacık Aykut Kayacık Actor · 63 years old Zindan Erkan Avcı Erkan Avcı Actor · 43 years old Ahmet Hülya Duyar Hülya Duyar Film actor · 56 years old Müjgan Jale Arıkan Jale Arıkan Actor · 61 years old Şükran Kerem Can Kerem Can Actor · born 1977 Can Mehmet Bozdoğan Mehmet Bozdoğan Actor · 49 years old Kerem Rüçhan Çalışkur Rüçhan Çalışkur Actor · 79 years old Kezban Tilbe Saran Tilbe Saran Actor · 65 years old Sevgi Tolga Tekin Tolga Tekin Actor · 53 years old Cihan Ünal Silver Ünal Silver Actor · died at 75 Yılmaz Giovanni Arvaneh Giovanni Arvaneh Actor · died at 61 Daniel

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Through different eyes

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

Zenne Dancer is inspired by the real story of Ahmet Yıldız, shot dead in 2008 because of his sexual identity, so it can't be watched as just another drama. Through Ahmet, from a conservative family, Can, who works openly as a zenne dancer, and Daniel, a German photographer, the film sets different worlds of Istanbul side by side. The equation of military service with being a man, and the passport problem, show concretely how an individual gets squeezed between family pressure and state institutions. The title word describes a male dancer who performs in women's clothing, a choice that questions from the outset how rigidly gender roles are drawn. That no one was ever held to account in the real case turns the film into a kind of testimony.

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

Zenne Dancer's courage is beyond question: starting from a real murder, it brings to the screen a subject few films in Turkey have tackled head-on. That Caner Alper and Mehmet Binay were friends of Ahmet Yıldız gives the film a palpable personal urgency. The structure, running three main characters' stories in parallel, lets it show different layers of Istanbul, and Erkan Avcı and Kerem Can give strong performances. Yet this structure at times leaves a scattered impression, and some scenes feel more explanatory than dramatic. The press's lukewarm reception may have something to do with that imbalance. Demir Demirkan and Paolo Poti's score, meanwhile, is an effective layer that supports the atmosphere. Despite its flaws, its very existence matters.

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

Zenne Dancer is a heavy drama inspired by a real murder; it's not a film to watch with children. It deals with difficult subjects such as family pressure, discrimination and violence. For adults and older teens ready to talk about the subject, though, it can be thought-provoking. An open, calm conversation at home afterwards is a good idea. Anyone looking for a cheerful evening film should pick something else.

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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