120 (film)

Production

Writer, producer and co-director Özhan Eren, an expert on the Caucasus Campaign in World War I, who came across the story of the 120 boys while doing the research for his bestselling The Road to Sarıkamış (), spent three years preparation for the film.

The film, which received a record amount of support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was shot over two years in harsh conditions on location in Safranbolu, Van and Istanbul, Turkey. When heavy snow, expected in Van for the winter settings of the film, failed to arrive, 20 trucks, two loaders and 30 staff members had to be laid on to bring 300 tons of snow from Çaldıran to Van for several scenes.

Plot

During the Battle of Sarikamish, the Ottoman army runs out of ammunition and appeals for help to the people of Van, who happen to have supplies. However, the First World War is on and all the men are fighting at the four corners of the empire and therefore can not respond to the appeal. The young children of Van want to do something and when the principal of a school, who has lost a son in the war, suggests that they transport ammunition, 120 young boys aged 12 to 17 volunteer and take to the road. The movie tells the true story of the 120 boys and their sisters and mothers left behind, who wait for their return.

Cast

• Ozge Ozberk
• Burak Sergen
• Cansel Elcin
• Yaşar Abravaya
• Melih Atalay
• Ozan Cem Dur
• Deniz Güngören
• Melza Burcu İnce
• İbrahim Öner
• Mustafa Karakoyun
• Oytun Öztamur
• Emre Törün
• Alican Yılmaz

Release

The film went on general release, with what Emrah Güler described as, an aggressive (and unnecessarily nationalistic) marketing campaign, in 179 screens across Turkey on at number one in the Turkish box office with an opening weekend gross of US$376,812.

The film had a gala screening in Stuttgart on before going on general release in 32 screens across Germany on at number 17 in the German box office with an opening weekend gross of US$53,763.

The film was re-released, to coincide with August 30 Victory Day () celebrations, in 32 screens across Turkey on at number thirteen in the Turkish box office with an opening weekend gross of US$23,071.

Reception

Box office

The film was in the Turkish box office charts for 41 weeks and is the 9th highest-grossing Turkish film of 2008 with a total nationwide gross of US$3,289,480.

Reviews

References

References

1. Bülbül, Yusuf. (2007-10-20). "Film on little Turkish heroes". Today's Zaman.
2. Yıldırım, Emine. (2008-09-03). "Heroes reborn in '120'". Today's Zaman.
3. Güler, Emrah. (2008-09-06). "Journey to the end of Anatolia". Hürriyet Daily News.
4. (2007-12-17). "Film on little Turkish heroes". Hürriyet Daily News.
5. "120". Box Office Mojo.
6. (2008-04-29). "Period drama '120' set to open in German theaters". Today's Zaman.