The first screening of the documentary “Samim Kocagöz: Compulsory Direction,” which focuses on the life of Samim Kocagöz, one of the prominent figures of the socialist and realistic literature generation, took place at Beyoğlu Cinema. The documentary presents the life and works of Kocagöz, leaving a mark on the literary world, with archival details. The screening at Beyoğlu Cinema was attended by Şükrü Kocagöz, the son of Samim Kocagöz, and many important figures from the art and literary world.

Director Mesut Gengeç Opens a New Window to the Literary World

Directed by Mesut Gengeç, the documentary features notable names such as Doğan Hızlan, Feridun Andaç, Tamer Levent, former Foreign Minister’s nephew Şükrü Sina Gürel, and Samim Kocagöz’s son Şükrü Kocagöz. The documentary narrates Kocagöz’s life through striking details, dramatizations, and interviews.

Director Gengeç: “We Portrayed His Entire Life Story in the Documentary”

Director Mesut Gengeç stated that, following a detailed archive search in Istanbul, they portrayed significant periods of Samim Kocagöz’s life in documentary format. Gengeç said, “This project started after the meeting held in Istanbul. The respect and love among the writers of that period are abundant. For this project, we talked to both literary circles and individuals from his family. We portrayed his entire life story in the documentary. He was a writer who grew up in the same period as many writers like Sait Faik Abasıyanık and Orhan Veli Kanık. His school teacher was Halide Edib Adıvar. We see that he focused on the social issues of that generation in his books.”

Şükrü Kocagöz, Son of Samim Kocagöz: “Samim Kocagöz is an Important Memory for This Country”

Şükrü Kocagöz, the son of Samim Kocagöz, expressed that the documentary depicting his father’s life will serve as a source for understanding the generational gap, contributing to the literary history. He said, “We thought about this documentary to remind a bit of that generation in memory of Samim Kocagöz. My father was a student of Sabahattin Ali and a teacher of Fakir Baykurt. Ara Güler was a great friend of my father. We have 50-60 photographs taken by Ara Bey. Luckily, he took them and handed them over. Mesut Bey is also a very good director. He had previously made a beautiful documentary about the Liberation of İzmir. Through that, we got to know each other, and it was a good documentary. My father was, in fact, a farmer and the son of a landowner. He was somewhat marginal within that generation, with a family position that contradicted his social role as a literary writer. Our documentary explains this beautifully.”

Actor Tamer Levent: “Samim Kocagöz is an Important Memory for This Country”

Actor Tamer Levent, who portrayed Samim Kocagöz’s life in the documentary, emphasized that Samim Kocagöz is an important memory for this country. Levent highlighted the need to preserve consciousness about culture and identity. He said, “It was a beautiful collaboration. We should not forget these things. We should never forget them. It ensures our respect for our own identity. This is what we call culture. As an Aegean, I am intimately acquainted with the Kocagöz family. I knew very well through my own research. When the Kalpaklılar theater play came to me, I was deeply moved. We portrayed Samim Kocagöz in this beautiful project. Thanks to everyone involved.”

The subsequent screenings of the documentary will take place in İzmir and Aydın. The documentary “Samim Kocagöz: Compulsory Direction” serves as a significant source on the works, thoughts, and life of Kocagöz, a prominent figure in Turkish literature.