A Book And A Movie: The Festival of Lovers’

Abstract

"The Festival of Lovers" is a significant novel depicting the characteristics of Anatolian "minstrel" culture (a kind of folk poetry). The author, Kemal Varol, is a multi-award-winning writer. The protagonist, Yusuf, finds himself on a rapidly unfolding journey when his father, whom he hasn't seen since he was seven, suddenly returns home in the middle of the night. The novel follows a journey from Diyarbakır, through Elazığ, Bingöl-Erzurum, to Kars for the traditional "Festival of Lovers." While partly a "long road" novel, it also portrays the inner journey and transformation of its characters. The father's prostate cancer has spread throughout his body, draining his strength. However, his last wish is to visit the annual "Festival of Lovers" in Kars one last time, to see his friends, and to play the saz and sing folk songs with them. The novel was adapted into a film by Netflix in 2022 and continues to be shown on the platform. Özcan Alper directed and wrote the screenplay for the film. The main roles are played by Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ (son Yusuf) and Settar Tanrıöğen (father Heves Ali).