Untitled - Ebru Bilun Akyıldız

Cover: Gravure, 18th century, portal of Galata Mevlevihanesi, Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum Archives
By Ebru Bilun Akyıldız / Turkey
Documentary / 48’ / HDV / Color / 2010
"M y eyes do not suffice, must borrow hundreds
to eye you, to admire you"
Rumi
Dervishes in Galata Mevlevihanesi, 19th century. Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum ArchivesGalata Mevlevihanesi Museum Archives
For centuries, mevlevihanesi* were established for the dervishes to follow Rumi’s sincere, alive and
impressive path which awakens oneself to another consciousness level. This spiritual voyage also had
its impact in literature, music and traditional arts; Galata Mevlevihanesi, founded in 1491, became a
genre of school in Istanbul.
In time, western embassy’s were established in the neighborhood. Mevlevihane was frequented by
many western travelers and visitors who came to Istanbul. Sheiks had allowed them to see the whirling
ritual in mevlevihane. In this way, Europe met with the deep mystical world of Rumi in this place.
*Through ages in Ottoman lands from Balkans to Anatolia, from Middle East to North Africa Mevlevi Lodges speaded by Rumi’s
followers. However so few of them have survived till today.
‘Soul traces’ is a documentary film, based on Galata Mevlevihanesi (the Mevlevi Lodge of Galata).
What was it and stil is that attracts people all over the world to this humble building for ages? We
are taking a closer look at its history, tradition and traces of past on it in order to understand. With
its permeable stand between life and death, its Sheikh Galib who gave his name to the street it is on;
and its cats that are remnant of Fasih Dede, Galata Mevlevihanesi sometimes draggs the film in its
silent, wordless mood.
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Ekrem Işın1 tells about its impacts on social history, about the strong relationship of the lodge with
Istanbul. Baha Tarman2 speaks of the impact created on the Western travellers. We hear from Esin
Çelebi3 of its conventions and rules of conduct. We are asking Ekrem Demirli4 what atracts people to
sufism. Nevit Oğuz Ergin5 shares his views on understanding Rumi. Ahmet Işık Doğan6 reminds us of
the forgotten symbols of sema ceremony. Mustafa Çıpan7 tells us the stories of Fasih Dede, a dervish
who lived here. İskender Pala8 speaks about the story of the cemetery which Mevlevis call ‘hamuşan’
that means ‘silents’. Kubilay Tunçer9 talks about Sheikh Galib and his book Hüsn-ü Aşk. We are talking
to the architect, Raif Doğan, about the restoration works of Semahane which he runs.
Fasih Dede, otoportre
producer, director, camera and editor
colorist
music
archieve research
Ebru Bilun Akyıldız
Gökhan Kırdar
production consultant
Fehmi Gerçeker
post production consultant
Ercümend Koçana
camera assistant
Cem Akgüllü
sound engineer
Gürhan Berkel
Cenk Erol
Semih Özkan
Ebru Bilun Akyıldız
graphic design
Ebru Bilun Akyıldız
Erdal Demir
translation of subtitles
Kadir Yiğit Us
Istanbul 2010 European
Capital of Culture Agency
Istanbul Provincial Culture
Directorate
Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum
Gökhan Kırdar
Loopus Entertainment
www.soultraces.net
www.ebrubilunakyildiz.com