Leah Donato is a writer and an aspiring screenwriter currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Leah has had an incredibly gigantic passion for film and writing stories since she was a little girl, and she always looks for opportunities to share her love of film with everyone she comes across. Through this, Leah hopes to achieve a sense of connectivity amongst the people around her with the stories she loves and the stories she writes. She wants the work she puts out to the world to be meaningful and provide a sense of comfort, which is what led her to TheHollywood Insider; a media network where she can have a space to share her thoughts and views on the artistic cultural world with a purpose whilst being true to herself and spreading positivity to create a more progressive mindset. When not writing, Leah spends the rest of her spare time watching movies and consuming multiple different types of media such as music and video games.
Aug 10, 2024
Table of Contents
Filmmaking in itself is a process, and it’s entirely not a process to be taken lightly. There is so much to take into account when making a film—actors, filming locations, script, etc. But, overall, no film could ever truly come to the physical world without the wonderful talent of the director, whose take on the film, and how they view it coming to life in their minds, is the “say all, be-all” in how a movie is going to end up. This is a lot of responsibility for someone to take on, but it’s also a responsibility that feels thrilling at the same time. Ultimately, the cinematic world that ends up being developed from the initial script is a magical opportunity to undertake.
The Turkish Netflix original series ‘The Life and Movies of Ersan Kuneri’ centers around the life of such a director, a true character who seems to show a vision for themselves. The series shows itself up to be a comedic and campy take on the process of filmmaking itself, and as someone who is about to graduate film school, I found this series to be right up my alley. The general atmosphere of the series tends to give off a rather familiar vibe, something that feels as though it’s a journey you’ve been on before, yet one that you can’t wait to go on for another go.
With all of this said, let’s dive into this review of Netflix’s recent shot at both another comedic and foreign original series.
I first want to start this off by saying that this show seems to be getting far more dislike towards it than it deserves. If you’ve read my other reviews before, you may know that I tend to be rather easy to please when it comes to films and TV series since I’m just a simple lover of all things entertainment as a whole. But, at the same time, in all honesty, the genre of comedy is a rather sensitive spot for me. By this, I mean sensitive in terms of it being one of my favorite genres to watch, write in, and even discuss together as a whole. Even though I may be easy to please, it isn’t exactly easy to make me find the comedy in a film or series to be pleasurable for me. However, the comedy in ‘The Life and Movies of Ersan Kuneri’ is incredibly both charming and rather outlandish to me–and that simply makes me admire it. Even if, on the surface level, others don’t seem to find it so, I’m proud to say that I gave this series a chance.
With a character whose name is a comedic wordplay on Sean Connery, the Turkish situational comedy ‘The Life and Movies of Ersan Kuneri’ follows the journey of erotic film producer and director, Ersan Kuneri, in the 70s and 80s. Each episode of the eight-episode season conveys further storytelling through feeling as though it’s a mini-movie. With about a 50-minute runtime with each episode, this format and style of cinematic storytelling are incredibly fitting. Not to mention how the campy cinematic camera work adds to an imaginative atmosphere as well.
The element of each episode centering around a specific type of film that Ersan Kuneri wants to make is not the only aspect of the series that makes everything feel so unique. As mentioned before, Kuneri is deemed as an “erotic film producer and director,” and, it is with that that a tad bit of eroticism is sprinkled here and there within each episode’s film. This aspect feels strangely unique through how it’s just one of the few things that make you do a double-take, and then quietly laugh to yourself as you realize what’s going on.
However, this element is only just the start of the strange comedic writing in the series.
The comedic writing is just another aspect that is the cherry on the cinematic cake of ‘The Life and Movies of Ersan Kuneri.’ With Ersan Kuneri starring in each film as the lead, and costume designs that appear as though they’re merged into being rather kitschy and classic movie magic, the sitcom element of the series is certainly prevalent. I’m not quite sure how, but the physical elements of the series make me nostalgic as if it’s a series I had watched once before as a kid. I’m not sure as to how I could fully explain this, but it’s the atmosphere and clear love and care that went into creating this series that emulates this reminiscent vibe. The environment of the 70s and 80s also creates such a pleasing underlying emotion, oddly enough.
The series also doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously either–simply being a fun experience to watch with no deeper meaning behind it. Some of the time, the series seems to be satirizing the impeccably amazing B-movies as each fictional movie seems to have a lower budget behind it. Because of that, the series cemented itself further into being endearing to me, and it continuously made me nod and smile as each joke would nail itself one way or another.
Admittedly, I will say that this series may not be for everyone. Sitcoms can always tend to be a hit or miss for people, and sadly this is one of those series. But, I don’t want me saying this to demean how I truly do love this series; and how I adore Cem Yilmaz’s hard work and effort into this show. If you’re thinking about giving this series a chance, I would entirely encourage you to at least stick around until the end of episode two. It does have a bit of a rocky start, but it’s a rocky start worth climbing.
‘The Life and Movies of Ersan Kuneri’ is an absurd and wonderful mess (and I don’t mean that in a bad way). The outlandish characters and entire look of the series have a rather nice play on the brain, challenging you to let go and experience the absurd for just a little while. It’s an exciting and unique journey of watching each episode and getting to see how each new film develops based on the basic premise of what said episode will tend to focus on.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see whether or not this series will be renewed for a second season. It has a lot of potential to build upon its initial story and see how all of these characters develop more behind the scenes. ‘The Life and Movies of Ersan Kuneri’ is a binge-worthy series that is time well spent rather than time wasted.
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
Leah Donato is a writer and an aspiring screenwriter currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Leah has had an incredibly gigantic passion for film and writing stories since she was a little girl, and she always looks for opportunities to share her love of film with everyone she comes across. Through this, Leah hopes to achieve a sense of connectivity amongst the people around her with the stories she loves and the stories she writes. She wants the work she puts out to the world to be meaningful and provide a sense of comfort, which is what led her to TheHollywood Insider; a media network where she can have a space to share her thoughts and views on the artistic cultural world with a purpose whilst being true to herself and spreading positivity to create a more progressive mindset. When not writing, Leah spends the rest of her spare time watching movies and consuming multiple different types of media such as music and video games.
Leah Donato is a writer and an aspiring screenwriter currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Leah has had an incredibly gigantic passion for film and writing stories since she was a little girl, and she always looks for opportunities to share her love of film with everyone she comes across. Through this, Leah hopes to achieve a sense of connectivity amongst the people around her with the stories she loves and the stories she writes. She wants the work she puts out to the world to be meaningful and provide a sense of comfort, which is what led her to TheHollywood Insider; a media network where she can have a space to share her thoughts and views on the artistic cultural world with a purpose whilst being true to herself and spreading positivity to create a more progressive mindset. When not writing, Leah spends the rest of her spare time watching movies and consuming multiple different types of media such as music and video games.
Leah Donato is a writer and an aspiring screenwriter currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Leah has had an incredibly gigantic passion for film and writing stories since she was a little girl, and she always looks for opportunities to share her love of film with everyone she comes across. Through this, Leah hopes to achieve a sense of connectivity amongst the people around her with the stories she loves and the stories she writes. She wants the work she puts out to the world to be meaningful and provide a sense of comfort, which is what led her to TheHollywood Insider; a media network where she can have a space to share her thoughts and views on the artistic cultural world with a purpose whilst being true to herself and spreading positivity to create a more progressive mindset. When not writing, Leah spends the rest of her spare time watching movies and consuming multiple different types of media such as music and video games.
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