Every stone has a life. The majority of Hans were, and still are, devoted to a specific craft. You can find silver merchants in Kalcilar Han, chains in Zincirli Han, and gold-spinning in Astarcı Han. If you stroll around the courtyards, you will see smiths going about their work, such as hammering out a piece of copper or melting gold. Fortunately, they appear to be used to tourists and do not mind if you graciously stop by their stores for a quick picture. Observing them at work, carrying out tasks that have not changed in several centuries, is a lot of fun.”Han İnsanları” is a skillfully produced documentary. Given that this kind of craft is going extinct in this century, director Kenan Yeşilyurt picked the ideal subject. Every frame is flawless, with the black fingers and their expressions being particularly captivating.
It is fascinating to see Istanbul’s history when the documentary opens, with the seaside and drone shots being particularly striking. We travel through ancient history and observe how their culture is still practiced in the creation of this particular craft. When we saw the workshop area, we were astounded by how director Welley captured this image. The government’s lack of interest in silversmithing is heartbreaking because, although they have historically worked around the grand bazaar, they are now essentially orphans. The Turkish Football Federation Cup is another event they work on. We watched an incredible and wonderful documentary.
Technical Point: Great cinematography and storytelling are conveyed by each shot. DI is also incredible, and they captured the color like the magic of the moon. The man and dog at the end of the shot are outstanding.
“If I was going to live a single moment in the world, I would like to end it by looking at Istanbul.”
Critique Point: 4/5
Directed by: Kenan Yeşilyurt