THE LIFE AND MOVIES OF ERŞAN KUNERİ
When I'm playing a character, I become that man.
Or woman.
You were great as a woman.
It really surprised me.
One day, Dustin Hoffman…
Zip it.
Remove that pillow, Tülay. Stop pretending you're pregnant.
-Has Mami come? -Many, many times.
God give me patience! Come with me.
Good evening.
Congrats! He looks like you!
God! Stop being so snarky, Erşan!
I've finally found it. Wrapped Up: Yaprak, by Cemil Nadir.
-Sandwich, Erşan? -I wish.
Tomris. Hello, dear. I'd like to speak to you.
We did two films together.
You know we don't need to use doubles since there is no danger.
There's an entry I can't figure out. "Seyyal Double, 10,000 lira."
-I didn't get that money. -So…
Good evening, everyone.
Come here.
Dear, what's up with the entry "Seyyal Double, 10,000 lira"?
That's mine, brother.
10,000 was agreed upon.
Are you fucking me over? When did we need a double for Seyyal?
I did all the skiing and sliding in Time to Slide.
-Oh, really? -Yes.
-You don't say? -I'm serious.
You played Şadan's son, Şadi. What sliding are you talking about?
-Brother, would I lie over 10,000 lira? -How much would you lie over?
Don't even look at me. I don't remember anything.
I'll rewatch the movie.
It isn't true.
Brother, I slid for free in my clothes and got 10,000 for sliding in Seyyal's.
If we all got 10,000 for sliding in Seyyal's…
Sorry.
-Sandwich? -I wish.
You were talking about a book you found, Erşan.
Oh, yeah.
Wrapped Up: Yaprak.
I've always wanted to do a book adaptation.
I'd read it in my youth.
I'll only do little tweaks. It's perfect as is.
It's set in a mansion. Wrapped Up: Yaprak, by Nadir.
Oh, "Based on the novel." Some movies have that.
Yes, exactly. "Based on the novel." I've always wanted to make such a movie.
I also want to do an "Adapted for the stage by…"
I'll do a musical like that.
-I'll make Erol jealous! -Erol will be jealous of you?
Yes, darling. My biggest dream is to make him jealous.
Hello, everyone!
Welcome, Şermin.
-Sandwich, Şermin? -I wish! I'm on a diet.
I'm going to be in a musical with Erol Evgin!
Which Erol Evgin?
How many do you know of?
Two as of now!
The Erol Evgin I look up to and the one who steals my actress.
The interview went great.
A blockbuster musical at the Şan Theater, İşte Öyle Bir Şey.
Same name as his famous song? So lazy!
-Is Haldun Dormen the director? -"Is Haldun Dormen the director?"
I'm happy for you, Şermin. It's a great opportunity.
Are you mad at me?
How can I be mad?
Haldun Dormen, Erol Evgin…
Those names carry a lot of weight.
Anyone here would go with them.
I didn't mean to be late like a prima donna.
Sorry, everyone. The waxing took longer than expected.
-Do I have any hair left here? -No.
I got really impatient.
Damn, I'm starving.
Kumsal, I have a question.
Would you go if Haldun Dormen called you?
No. I don't do that anymore.
It's been years since I made house calls.
What are you lot talking about?
Where does he want me to go?
You're crazy, Kumsal!
Şermin is going to be in a musical with Erol Evgin.
No way!
Yes. She'll choose either Erol Evgin's musical
or our wee "based-on-the-novel" project, Wrapped Up: Yaprak.
And I had envisioned Şermin as Yaprak.
Oh no! Don't make me choose!
"Based-on-the-novel" movies are always so good!
Right?
Which is it, then?
Erol Evgin or "based-on-the-novel"? Tell me.
Wrapped Up: Yaprak?
Yes. It'll only take a week. You're Yaprak.
I vote for Erol.
-Erol for sure. -Go for Erol, girl!
-Okay, I'll do our movie. -Oh, yeah!
What a bitch.
Contradicting us out of spite.
Right? Silly girl.
Attagirl, Şermin!
My nimble little bunny!
You're the star here.
I was only joking about Erol Evgin.
I just saw the news in the paper.
So shrewd!
Sometimes that's how you get the part.
She got the lead role. That's it!
Nice one. But don't ever come to me with Erol again. Please.
Erşan, sir, this guy says he's your big brother. Do I boot him?
Erşan, the needy and the poor are starving.
Please save them!
The 10,000 lira you gave me all went to the poor.
They ask me if my kind-hearted brother
can give them another 5,000 by tomorrow.
-The poor are saying this? -Like a choir! It's unbelievable.
Unbelievable indeed.
-Can you play in a movie? -That's a hard one.
Doing ten takes for a two-minute scene!
Heck, I'll do it for 7,500.
Or let's just say 10,000. Is it a long one?
Okay, 7,500. You're in.
Wrapped Up: Yaprak. Based on the novel by Cemil Nadir.
Sandwich, Cemal?
I wish.
WRAPPED UP: YAPRAK
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY CEMİL NADİR
CEMAL TARAKÇI AS NECİP
KUMSAL GÜNEŞ AS MACİDE
TOMRİS BEYOĞLU AS FİGEN
ERŞAN KUNERİ AS NAZİF
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY CEMİL NADİR
CENGİZ GÜMÜŞ AS FİKRET
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY CEMİL NADİR
SEYYAL PAR AS NEBİBE
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY CEMİL NADİR
AYHUN UŞUK AS FAİK
MUAMMER RADO AS HASAN
ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN BY ERŞAN KUNERİ
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY CEMİL NADİR
DIRECTED BY ERŞAN KUNERİ
WRAPPED UP: YAPRAK BASED ON THE NOVEL BY CEMİL NADİR
RECORDED AT 1000VOLT STUDIOS
Bravo! Astounding! Here I was, expecting something more European.
An impeccable performance, Figen.
My dear Nebibe, your sister is full of surprises.
Right? I could hardly keep up!
Being a Westernophile, I would've put on one heck of a show if it were Paganini.
-Right. Of course. -You're making me blush.
Where did this tune come from, Figen?
I know, right? I thought the mansion was being sold.
I was surprised by how you lost yourself in the tune, big brother.
Being the only nonmusical person here is no excuse for jealousy.
Not true. My recorder is always with me.
But I wanted to listen to Figen, not draw attention like you.
Stop this nonsense, you little lamb.
I knew he'd call me a lamb.
Why do you look so distant, Fikret?
Why, because I'm a morphine-addict, of course.
What an unwelcome utterance!
Have you not heard?
It's the new rumor Hasan is spreading.
He knows that I'm diabetic
yet told everyone I was an addict after seeing me with a syringe.
What nonsense would he spew if I said I was melancholic?
I'd rather see it happen than hear it. It's absurd!
I'll have a word with him.
Villagers always see things through their little blinders!
Horse blinders are not small.
Faik, dear, you don't have to argue all the time.
Especially with people who are more educated than you.
Always with the bragging about his schooling!
Kabataş Boys' High School, mister!
Oh? But I don't like boys, mister!
Then we're all ears, Mr. Nazif, alumnus of Italian High School!
Tell us about your days of philandering.
Don't be insolent, Faik.
I was called Giovanni Nazif at school in Italy.
Oh, really? Giovanni Nazif!
What are you trying to say about me?
Enough of this bickering. Sit down, son.
I need to tell you something.
I hired a young woman as help for the mansion.
She'll arrive shortly.
She's an innocent young lady.
Hasan can't keep up with everything anymore.
A wise decision, big brother.
She can help with dinners and formalities.
Is she young?
There we go. The first question reveals everything.
Look, I'll be the death of you.
No "lamb"? Go ahead, call me "lamb." Say it, "lamb."
Enough. Stop it.
She's a young villager.
I hope she pulls through and learns all the ropes
so we have some help around the mansion.
I don't suppose that's her.
There's a dreamy girl outside.
May some good come of this.
Let me see.
Is she here already?
She's so innocent.
She's trembling like a leaf.
How odd that Yaprak's name means "leaf!"
-Her name is Yaprak? -Her kind is so cunning, Faik.
Make sure she knows her place.
-Her name is Yaprak? -Girls like her get a nickname in no time.
Enamored Cloud suits her.
Maybe something like Alluring Tater.
I'll call her Nimble Bunny.
How about Field Mouse?
Why not Rabbit Stew?
No wonder you went to an all-boys school.
What a gentle, tender woman.
What are you waiting for? Open the door.
Such dewy eyes.
-Very tappable. -Excuse me?
I mean, she will probably tap out.
As in, she will quit. That's what I meant.
She looks like a bad omen to me.
Welcome.
She's so bony, right, Nazif?
She'll be even more bony when my bone…
Stop.
Welcome, dear.
-Thanks, sir. Let me kiss your hand. -No need.
Hasan!
Yes, sir?
Show Yaprak to her room.
Our room is the closest to the kitchen, right, dear Nebibe?
Maybe she should be close by.
Upstairs is a good spot to…
I mean, in the attic, the room next to Figen's is empty.
How do you know about Figen's room?
What a big and beautiful house you have!
So many different things.
One could die from happiness here.
Must be hard to live here.
I'm sorry. Did I overstep?
It's a big house. You'll see when you're dusting.
Hasan.
Come, dear.
I hope I won't disappoint you.
-Here we go! Misfortunes are upon us! -We take the bitter with the sweet.
Here you go, dear. Enjoy.
You must be tired from traveling. Eat.
Then you'll settle in your room, okay?
Thank you, Uncle Hasan.
Do you think they'll like me and accept me as one of them?
I've been here for 34 years.
Mr. Necip has never invited me to do a Charleston dance
or to have fun in a bar.
I'm joking.
They are different in every way, Yaprak.
The company they keep. Their way of eating and drinking.
Forget about them. Just focus on earning your daily bread.
And also, look,
be very wary of Faik and Nazif.
Always be on alert.
Let's say I accidentally dropped a wooden spoon on the ground.
I look around three times before bending over.
What was that about the spoon?
Nothing, just…
We were joking around, sir.
Where's my kiss?
Oh God.
Classic Mr. Nazif with his jokes.
How is it going? What's for dinner?
We start with a consommé.
I'm also preparing cordon bleu.
You can then choose to have your bouillabaisse and leave
or stay for the dessert of wild strawberries and macarons.
-You made all that up here? -I'm not making anything up.
All right, then.
Oh, and… Are your eyes hazel or brown?
Clearly hazel, sir.
Sorry.
All right, then.
I lust for you.
-Are you visiting me tonight too? -Of course, baby.
And don't ever pay attention to that yokel again.
Nonsense.
-I'll end it! -Okay.
Wait.
You jerk! I see that you're very intimate with your wife!
You refreshed her liqueur twice right in front of me.
Don't be ridiculous, my love.
-This forbidden love is too much to bear. -It'll all be over soon.
We'll find a single-story place.
We're getting fucked by this mansion, with all the intrigue, cheating,
and never-ending passion.
This mansion is driving me nuts!
Yaprak, come here.
I'll kill you!
Yaprak, come.
How dare you yell "cum" inside this mansion!
I said "come." Shame on you!
-You dirty… -Where's Yaprak?
I'd like to ask for a rosehip tea.
You dirty heroin addict!
Even the maid! You slimeball!
-Faik. -Yes, big brother?
-Why are you glaring at me? -I do not like you at all, big brother.
Really? Must be the mansion.
A single-story place will fix it. Read my lips.
-What was that at the end? -Public boarding school. That's you.
-Nonsense. -I mean, really.
She has such a rancid smell!
-Will you get desert? -A dirty villager!
-Villager! -Open up a bit.
But it comes with a natural beauty.
What are you doing? Stop.
He's never in the office or anything.
Right? Can you claim otherwise?
Faik?
I go to the factory, not the office. An unwelcome utterance!
Top up the water glasses.
Take the empty soup bowls away.
Thanks, dear.
Pardon me, sir.
Are you done with your soup, sister Figen?
Excuse me?
What is this, Hasan? Is this a tripe soup joint in Sütlüce?
Is this the service we deserve?
She rushed a bit out of anxiety, ma'am. Please forgive us.
Golly gee!
Let's not embarrass the girl.
These things happen.
The consommé is amazing.
Really?
Necip, maybe we should ask Yaprak to make us tarhana soup.
It's been years since I've had it. I even forgot its smell.
Right?
I don't know how to make tarhana.
One shrug and I'm done for!
How can you not know it?
I swear I don't.
She shrugged! Such innocence!
Mrs. Macide, the girl can sing very well.
She has an amazing voice. Go on.
No, please, I'm too shy.
-You little birdie! Who gets shy anymore? -Right!
You were singing so well in the kitchen. Don't be shy, girl.
I'm a village girl
My heart is wounded
If I told you what ailed me
You'd feel so much pity
I fell in love with a young man
Oh, his coal-black eyes and slender figure
He stole my heart
And left me a devastated
Bravo.
Village, village!
What is this, Nazif?
Village, darling.
I don't want parfait, Hasan. I'm too shaken.
-Really? You're moved as well? -Is that too hard to believe?
Ilgaz, you're a mighty mountain In Anatolia
Ilgaz, you're a mighty mountain In Anatolia--
All right, enough!
She liked it, even sang along.
What an impromptu rendering of "Ilgaz" by me.
Put that recorder away, please. Let's not spoil the mood.
Because that recorder makes me want to do one thing.
Go on, say it.
Will you call me a "little lamb"?
-Go on, "little lamb" is… -Enough with all the bickering!
Give us a, "I'd rather see it happen than hear it," so that we can leave.
You spoiled my mood.
She had livened up our night with her singing.
I'll go to bed. Good night.
You old wolf. I won't let you have Yaprak.
This cheapens the whole thing. I don't know what to say.
Faik!
In essence, they're all pure and sweet.
But they have an odd sense of pride.
A fake pride.
It doesn't suit them at all.
I wish I had the power to change them.
Forget about the others. Take care of me.
Of course I will.
You came to my room and approached me in a friendly manner.
Hah! "Friendly"?
Are you kidding me?
I came to you in the name of intrigue, tension, and oddity.
-Do you not feel it at all? -No.
I feel like we're sisters. You're so sweet.
-You're really naive. -I really am.
Then how about we…
Mr. Nazif?
Oh my goodness!
You don't need to learn how to walk with a book on your head. Like I did.
I guess.
And no one thought anything of it when you said, "Golly gee!"
So we don't need to work on your speaking.
What are we going to do, then?
I think…
Just teach me about the Turkish Five.
Cemal Reşit Rey.
Adnan Saygun.
Ulvi Cemal Erkin.
Goodness gracious! What am I doing?
You are putting me under your spell as well.
No.
I will not fall for it, Alluring Tater!
Figen?
You crazy girl!
What is going on, Nazif?
You've been gone for half an hour this late at night.
I just couldn't sleep. I've been thinking about Yaprak's song.
The innocence of the song, those lyrics…
What was it?
I'm a village girl
My heart is wounded
If I told you what ailed me--
Is this true?
No, big brother, I'm not a village girl.
I was just singing Yaprak's song.
Shame on you!
You old wolf. I won't let you have Yaprak.
-Yaprak, let's sleep, my love. -Insolent!
BE VERY CAREFUL, DEAR.
THAT JERK FAIK MUST GO. YAPRAK IS MINE!
-SHAME ON YOU! -WE WERE JUST PLAYING.
-ARE YOU INTO MUSIC? -I JUST LISTEN.
-IT'S HOW I COPE. -STOP. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!
STOP, PLEASE! I'M GETTING WET.
Is that a deed, brother?
Just stop for a minute.
-What's going on? -What do you think?
Think about it. What could be going on?
Consider the timing. We're in a mansion. What happens in mansions?
An "unwelcome utterance" or a "rather see it happen than hear it"?
What is it?
Are we selling the mansion?
Fuck off.
Be civil! What an unwelcome utterance!
You'd sooner have it happen than be heard.
Brother, please explain it plainly so everyone can understand.
We aren't doing well in Thursday Bazaar. We had a promissory note.
And the corresponding amount due had already been settled in full.
Had we agreed on a clause
that would accelerate subsequent bonds in case of no payment?
Exactly.
And I also accepted that in the case of a dispute,
I'd comply with the ruling set forth by the courts of Istanbul.
Of what use is it to protest if such is our fate?
What's happening?
You uncultured public school boy!
You drink sherry, eat parfait, not to mention Chicken Topkapı.
I'll strangle you!
Has your shallow mind ever wondered how we fund this mansion?
I'll shove the recorder up your ass.
You never visit the company or the office. You motherfucker!
You shithead!
Fucking pervert!
Last night you pressed on my balls as if driving a sports car!
You moral degenerate!
Why didn't you tell me that it was you?
You gay lord!
Are you done?
The mansion's now in Fikret's name.
He has no shares in the company. We must try save the mansion.
That's good.
-Shall we drink sherry, brother? -Sure.
That loony Fikret is not even himself.
I don't think he'll cause us trouble.
Here you go, brother.
So many books!
Do you read all these?
Be quiet. Don't speak.
Yes, I've read them all.
And I deeply regret it.
I wish I stayed pure and innocent like you.
Please don't. My employment isn't even official yet.
Fikret. What are you doing in the library?
Figen is going to play the piano. Come, Yaprak. Both of you.
Is that a recorder?
-Stop. Give it to me. -Leave me be!
-Let go! -You let go!
Stop playing that!
Stop it.
Yaprak has been with us for a week now.
We've bonded a lot.
Figen, give us a waltz.
I don't want to play the damn piano anymore.
-I've been playing since I was four! -You're so right, dear.
I'm fed up as well.
We always drink liqueur and stare around.
Now that I think about it,
we have truly lived the mansion experience.
Don't you all think?
But Yaprak's dancing and singing has brightened our lives.
Oh, really?
I've got it!
Let's throw a party and invite all the socialites.
-Maybe a ball? -Splendid!
Yaprak would enjoy the experience.
Oh, really? How so?
No, I mean… I just meant that we'd all have fun together.
Did you?
A party with a theme.
I don't know, like one of those costume parties or a masquerade ball.
Followed by wild sex.
Faik!
Come here. What the fuck is going through your mind?
What are you imagining? Why are you talking about sex?
What a cliché of a rich brat you are!
What's inside your head? You… Where did we go wrong?
You got accepted into Galatasaray but didn't go!
-What are we going to do with you? -Stop it!
It's obvious you're trying to woo her with the theme party. I don't buy it.
You can't hog all the sex in this mansion.
-How dare you? -I'm hogging it!
Yaprak, can't I hog all the sex in this mansion?
Why can't you talk to me normally?
I see you like a brother, or a father.
Why can't you communicate properly?
Why oh why?
Always with the comments about me being a villager and so on.
Always with the sexual tension.
I'm so sick of everyone being incapable of going with the flow!
Yaprak, wait!
Oh my! What a know-it-all!
I mean, yeah! Why are you all trying to shag the maid?
What is this nonsense? As if it is your duty!
Let her be.
All right, enough.
She is too special to let go. You can't blame me.
The party is going to be great.
No piano, right?
No piano. Just a costume party.
I like your idea.
With all the rich people, she'll be like a fish out of water.
Hasan!
Hasan! Come here.
We're throwing a big party on Friday. I'll make a list for you later on.
-Can we talk, Mr. Nazif? -Of course.
Look, I know your situation.
Yaprak's family trusted me with her.
If I see her cry like this one more time,
I will forgo my severance for my 34 years here
and shove this rolling pin up your and Faik's asses.
You old gaffer.
Of course you will.
What are you talking about?
Mr. Nazif will fill you in.
Crazy guy.
The party will be great.
Şahbender!
My dear Beti! Come here.
You never fail to surprise me, Nazif!
-What a party! -Right?
You made us look ridiculous, dear.
And I'm dressed like a Zeybek.
There's sim sim kebab there and dızlama here.
Watch out, there's manure on the floor. Go on ahead.
Listen. Regional songs.
-Do we have cacık? -Always.
Come. Watch out.
Go on.
Top up everyone's ayran.
The only village you know of is the Village!
Look, I'm a Zeybek!
What in tarnation!
Nebibe? Oh my God!
-Do I look good? -Amazing!
I'm wearing three layers.
If we wanted a quickie, I'd spend 20 minutes undressing.
Leave that to the experts.
-Are the Yusufis here? -How would I know?
Why is Faik so late? That asshole.
I hope his costume matches the theme.
Come with me.
The ayrans.
They do such weird things.
They filled the whole room with hay.
That's nothing. Look at my feet.
The whole hallway is filled with buffalo dung.
Why? Because of a theme!
Fuck his theme! Pardon my language.
Here, serve them these muffins.
If anyone says anything to you, don't hold back, put them in their place.
-Don't worry. I've got your back. -Okay, Uncle Hasan.
How are you?
What's this smell?
Manure.
Pardon my language. It's literal shit, sir.
You aren't dressed as a villager.
I didn't feel like it. And you?
I'm already a villager.
Everyone did a great job with their thematic costumes.
Always a disappointment.
Faik, dear, which village are you from?
-Wiesbaden, sugar. Is there a problem? -Yes, sugar.
I want to see Anatolia.
Give me the Gediz and Kızılırmak Rivers, the steppes, the streams…
But of course, it's Faik.
Can't get through to him.
Isn't there something to drink here?
Huh, Nazif?
Tell me, misters.
Tell me, sirs.
Do we not even have a prosecco to drink?
Such a good impression!
-Would you like some? -Wait there.
Madlen, this is our maid Yaprak. She actually is a villager.
Tell us, dear, which one of us looks better?
Mrs. Madlen over here or myself?
I don't know. Who am I to judge?
I think it's you.
No one can be such a villager like you even if they tried.
-That's right. -Villager!
Because she's a genuine one.
Right, of course.
-Village! Village! -Village!
Even the mansion smells different since she came here.
-We have ayran and you're drinking beer? -Yes.
And the theme?
Wiesbaden, darling.
And beer is made from barley.
Şahbender, watch.
My friends, we are now going to play a traditional game.
-The Headman's Donkey! -I wanna play too!
-Come here. -I want to play as well!
It's such a sweet game.
-Did the headman's donkey come back? -Did it come back?
-What did it bring? -What did it bring?
-Did the headman's donkey come back? -Did it come back?
-What did it bring? -What did it bring?
My turn to get on the ground!
-Go on. -Here we go.
-Did the headman's donkey come back? -Did it come back?
-What did it bring? -What did it bring?
-Did the headman's donkey come back? -Did it come back?
-What did it bring? -What did it bring?
I'll lie down. Hit me in the front.
-Did the headman's donkey come back? -Did it come back?
Wait.
Yaprak, ask, "Did the headman's donkey come back?"
Enough!
This isn't the rural life.
Real rural life is not like this.
I hate you all.
Let this masquerade ball end!
I came to Istanbul to study.
People like me need to work to study.
I worked in this mansion as a maid without any disdain.
Without what?
Really? Now?
I was genuine with you all.
I watched you intently, hoping to learn something.
But this mansion has consumed and corrupted you.
I'm not questioning your morals.
Go make love to each other!
I make love too.
I make love in the mountains and plains, completely unashamed!
Because I'm a villager.
You secretly made love in the doorway and under the table.
I didn't get mad at you. I just felt sad for you.
You live in a mansion but act like you live in a cave.
I felt shame!
Enough of this! Field Mouse!
Shut up, or I'll shove that stick up your ass.
You love getting surprises.
This was my surprise for you.
A villager's slap, if you will.
I'm sorry for ruining your theme.
But villages don't only smell of manure but of roses as well.
One puts manure on roses to make them grow.
But you guys put manure on shit and made the mansion even shittier!
It was a mistake to think we could live like siblings.
I'll get my own place.
And I'm retaking two courses.
I'm studying philosophy. It's not easy.
True.
Fikret. I like you. I fancy you.
Do you want to come with me?
Yaprak.
Do you or do you not? Stop the empty stare.
My love.
I mean, sorry… Look.
This mansion is mine.
Why would we leave?
They can leave.
What?
Are you fucking serious? Pardon my language.
Stop!
Right now, I'm ashamed of being an urbanite.
And I'd like to apologize to Yaprak with a song.
This was a beautiful song. May I stay in the mansion?
I don't like it.
You heard her. Leave the mansion.
My girlfriend wants you out.
Fikret! What an unwelcome…
-…utterance. -Little lamb!
Here.
We officially have the deed. Leave the mansion at once.
Fuck right off, motherfuckers!
I'm staying, right, sir?
Of course, Hasan.
Give me a hug.
-My Enamored Cloud! -Darling!
THE END
Subtitle translation by: Ahmedşah Bilgi