BUTTERFLY’S DREAM.

 

Released in February 2013, BUTTERFLY’S DREAM or KELEBEGIN RUYASI to give the film its original Turkish title was directed by Yilmaz ErdogaVasin and was selected by the Turkish minister of culture and tourism to become Turkey’s entry for the 2014 Academy Awards. The films story is set in Turkey during the 1940’s, and centres upon two very good friends Rustu Onur and Muzaffer Tayyip Uslu who make their way in the world by earning money from their poetic writings during the hardship and uncertain time of the second world war. The film is essentially a tale of friendship that soon blossoms into love and tells of the hardship endured by the couple as they face an unfair social class system and also religious prejudices that were rife at this period in Turkey’s history. These factors all of which are thrown in the path of their love become a test for the young couple and jeopardize not only their romantic involvement but also their friendship and their creative and poetic writing. The film contains some stunning scenery and the cinematography deserves an award most certainly, in many ways the style in which the movie is shot is reminiscent of the films of Italian film director, Guiseppe Tornatore and the music could be Morricone at times, both image and music working together perfectly and each complimenting and ingratiating one another. The musical score is the work of Turkish composer, Rahman Altin, the Maestro who has worked on a handful of feature films and also television productions in his homeland has created a work that is an unexpected treasure and a delightful listening experience. The music is full of romantic and highly emotive passages and relies predominantly upon the string section which is augmented by light and wistful touches from woodwind and beautifully performed piano interludes with the odd appearance of fleeting accordion.

The composer utilises piano to its full potential within the score, the instrument acting as a lead on many of the tracks and becoming a sturdy foundation to others. The score which is fully symphonic is not only lush and lavish sounding but has the ability to be delicate and heartrending with flourishes of melancholy underlining the proceedings throughout. The composer also makes creative and excellent use of solo violin, light harp and sorrowful cello within the framework of his soundtrack, creating some of the most haunting and heartfelt compositions that I have heard in a long while. In many ways this score did evoke for me memories of IN THEIR EYES it has that style and sound to it, it is an emotion filled journey for the listener which layers emotive musical nuances upon fragile and lamenting sounding tone poems that ultimately bring to the surface intricate thematic properties that are touching and lingering, it also on occasion displays a simplicity which is also highly effective and attractive. I cannot identify a track within the score that I would say stands out because all are excellent, this is a score that you must own, a score that you must listen to and one that I know you will adore.