Pehlivan (1964) directed by Maurice Pialat
Instead of an over the top,overblown film review,I would like to just write a couple of my observations.I saw this short feature at FEMIS (famous French film school).I later spoke to master cameraman Willy Kurant who not only shot this film but also "Sous le soleil du Satan" directed by Maurice Pialat.According to him Pialat paid great deal of attention to the way he liked his films to be shot.Pehlivan means "Wrestler".This is a short film about a wrestling competition.We see a lot of people in the crowd both men and women alike appreciating, applauding and cheering wrestlers who have come from all parts of Turkey.A lot of honor is at stake as no body wants to lose.For this reason there is a fierce competition. The wrestling matches are held with loud drums playing in the background.A couple of belly dancers also join when there is a break after a wrestling bout.All in all, Pehlivan is a good piece of ethnographic cinema made by a great visionary of French cinema who is no more with us.
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