Four Women in the Harem (1965) by Halit Refig: The Construction of "National Cinema" in Turkey

On July 27, 1966, the renowned Turkish film director Halit Refiğ angrily left a panel discussion on Turkish cinema. Organized by the film writers’ association Sinematek, the panel was titled, “The Social Structure of Turkey, Turkish Cinema and its Future.” According to Refiğ, more than being a discussion on Turkish cinema and its future, the panel had turned into a courtroom in which Turkish filmmakers were put on trial, and as the enemies of society, they, including Refiğ, were deeply insulted. After intense disagreement with Sinematek writers on the condition of Turkish cinema, Halit Refiğ and some other film directors developed the concept of what they called ulusal sinema (national cinema).