Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

That is really intresting Rami listening to the other side of the story, i suppose there is always two sides to a story which we tend to forget sometimes. The film scared so many people about turkey, its nice to hear from the person himself and put the record straight. Its like you read a good book and when it gets put into film its nothing like it, or bits and pieces have been ommitted. I found it intresting

It was very informative to say the least and Sharon is correct there is always 2 sides to a story and I never crashed Rami's car into the Dolmus as the truth is the Dolmus hit me

yes, a parked dolmus hit you, you are just as imaginative as Oliver Stone

you two are like the chuckle brothers

When I watched Midnight Express many years ago it was one of the most memorable films I have ever seen. It didn't turn me against Turkey but after listening to Billy Hayes tell his story, the producers should have been
done for misrepresentation because it doesn't sound like there was a grain of truth in the film!
Thanks Rami for posting this link.

During many years I lived in Canada, I was faced with the unfortunate frontation of what this movie meant to those who watched it. I was looked at as if I was barbaristic or in best case scenerio, a decent guy who was an exception to the land of brutal people called Turkey.
Did I try to explain people that the movie was no reflection of the truth about people or life of the Turkish? Yes. Did it help at all? No, how could I be more powerful and effective in my explanations or in my denials than a blockbuster hit that totally contradicted my words!

Imagine someone asking you where you are from, your MOTHER LAND, and once you answer, you get a funny look and a comment that follows with ahhh, Midnight Express... So, this was not just a movie, this was the only marketing that was done for Turkey for such a long time. I even remember renting the video of this movie from the newly opened video store in our university campus and paying the total fine so i wouldnt have to return it thus no one else could rent it:)

I am happy that the truth comes out now. As a saying goes, better late than never!

It may look like many people know of Turkey much better now and that Midnight Express thoughts are long gone. No, unfortunately, there are still many people around the world who will not come to Turkey because of this movie. So thank you inadvance for spreading the word or should I say the truth!

Rami

Thanks Rami - Just watched the video clip and found it so interesting. Its amazing that some people still refuse to visit Turkey because of this film. Well done Billy Hayes for speaking the truth. Its s shame that he is too scared to return to Istanbul.

Christabel

Great to see that video I will send it to my neighbour, who, after 30 years still believes that's what Turkey is really like.
Some people believe what they want to.

aww have been offline for too long and the link doesn't work now
esp as this is my all time favorite film....
anychance of resurrecting the footage please???????????