ufster-2 Review of Saban, Son of Saban

Saban, Son of Saban (1977)

A cornerstone of Turkish absurd comedies that continues to influence younger generation of cinephiles

[9/10 · 22 February 2020]

This movie has all the hallmarks of a great absurd comedy with a distinct flavor of what Turkish humor was at the time of its production. The plot is mainly driven by the character of Saban, a somewhat goofy and ultimately a character of good intentions yet retains certain character flaws such as greed, lust and pride so as to give it a more approachable quality and some depth. Portrayed so naturally by Kemal Sunal (who had a shine about him throughout the 70s), this all works to break the mold of the tram such as when Saban tries to physically get rid of his long time friend as a competitor for his romantic interest, something Chaplin's character would never do. It's that blend of folksy naivete and rural shrewdness in the background of incredibly unlucky circumstances which many Turkish actors/directors since tried to emulate and succeed (hence fail) to some degree. The plot is therefore secondary to this dynamic and the kernel of the movie so any similarities to previous foreign production movies, however blatant, should be disregarded with this in mind. I should end by mentioning Sener Sen, delivering yet another great performance, his character embodying the outwardly serious, stern military/law and order men breaking loose under the absurd pressure of the circumstances. Only the range of an actor who is of the caliber of Sener Sen could allow such wonderful comedic timing to coexist seamlessly with the "serious" parts of his role. Eternally grateful for the director, writers and producers for bringing together this cast and allowing them free reign to do what they do best.