Summary "Ata Spor" - the "sport of the fathers", the name applies worldwide only to one kind of physical exercise: the "ER MEYDANI", the wrestling match of heavyweight men in the semicircle of Anatolian village squares. For more than 2000 years, shiny oil bodies have been wrestling in front of the eyes of spectators, sultans and presidents, formerly for the physical training of Ottoman warriors, today exclusively for reasons of tradition and prestige: it's all about fame and lots of money. Officially the "ER MEYDANI" - the "meeting of venerable gentlemen in a semicircle" - has been held for exactly 639 years. Mass gatherings, congested streets, balladeers, fortune tellers, market criers: all this has to be feared - no, is expected - when the "Baspehlivan", the "master of all wrestlers" near Edirne, the old capital of the Ottoman Empire, is determined every year. In former times the sultans showered the winner with gold pieces and jewels, he was untouchable and enjoyed for one year the "protection of the caliphs". Today this event is still marked with a red pencil in the diary of the country's highest politicians. The film follows the "Champion of the Century", the "Bashpehlivan" Ahmet Tasci, during the competition days. Will he defend his title, the ninth time already ? The highlight: the final fights - a true folk festival in oil.
Directed : Unknown
Written : Unknown
Stars : Richard Gere The Dalai Lama
Genres : Documentary
Countries of origin : Germany
Official sites : https://www.presseportal.de/pm/7169/414839
Language : German
Production companies : Martin Thoma Film- und Fernsehproduktion Haberci Productions
Summary "Ata Spor" - the "sport of the fathers", the name applies worldwide only to one kind of physical exercise: the "ER MEYDANI", the wrestling match of heavyweight men in the semicircle of Anatolian village squares. For more than 2000 years, shiny oil bodies have been wrestling in front of the eyes of spectators, sultans and presidents, formerly for the physical training of Ottoman warriors, today exclusively for reasons of tradition and prestige: it's all about fame and lots of money. Officially the "ER MEYDANI" - the "meeting of venerable gentlemen in a semicircle" - has been held for exactly 639 years. Mass gatherings, congested streets, balladeers, fortune tellers, market criers: all this has to be feared - no, is expected - when the "Baspehlivan", the "master of all wrestlers" near Edirne, the old capital of the Ottoman Empire, is determined every year. In former times the sultans showered the winner with gold pieces and jewels, he was untouchable and enjoyed for one year the "protection of the caliphs". Today this event is still marked with a red pencil in the diary of the country's highest politicians. The film follows the "Champion of the Century", the "Bashpehlivan" Ahmet Tasci, during the competition days. Will he defend his title, the ninth time already ? The highlight: the final fights - a true folk festival in oil.
Genres : Documentary
Countries of origin : Germany
Official sites : https://www.presseportal.de/pm/7169/414839
Language : German
Production companies : Martin Thoma Film- und Fernsehproduktion Haberci Productions