About

This screening will be introduced by Amanda Slack-Smith, Australian Cinémathèque.

Two Turkish space warriors, Murat and Ali, are combing the universe in search of Earth’s deadliest foe. After a nail-biting space battle, they crash land on a desolate, desert planet. Testing their theory that the planet is inhabited only by women, Ali whistles his ‘irresistible’ wolf-whistle which will surely entice the women from the hills.

Made in 1982, The Man Who Saves the World (often referred to as ‘Turkish Star Wars’), blends sci-fi, martial arts and action-adventure while audaciously borrowing from some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters of the era. In their mission to save Earth from total annihilation, our heroes face no-end of enemies, from demonic robots and bright red furry beasts to mummies with papier-mâché style heads and sorcerers with giant lapels and golden capes.

Turkish cinema icon Cüneyt Arkın wrote the script and stars as the charismatic protagonist Murat. Arkın began his professional life as a medical doctor and transitioned to making film in the 1960s when he was discovered by film director Halit Refiğ while completing his military service. Arkin starred in a vast number of films, branching out into scriptwriting, producing, and directing. He is credited with having a hand in around a staggering 300 films throughout his career.

Screening from a rare digital restoration, The Man Who Saves the World is a glorious example of exploitation cinema at its best: rapid-fire, make-a-quick-buck filmmaking that breaks all the rules while managing to be outrageously entertaining.

QAGOMA would like to thank Iain Robert Smith, King’s College London for his assistance with this film.

Ages 15+