GORA's Cem Yilmaz Goes Western With YAHŞİ BATI

Regular readers of this space should be well familiar with the name of Cem Yilmaz by now.  The hugely popular comic was already a highly sought after performer when he also hit international success as a director with his scifi comedy GORA.  A film that drew immediate comparisons to Mel Brooks with its blend of high concepts, lowbrow slapstick, and Yilmaz's portrayal of multiple roles GORA traveled widely on the international festival circuit and still stands in my mind as the most technically accomplished genre film to ever come out of Turkey. 

Well, if GORA is Yilmaz's Spaceballs then Yahsi Bati is his Blazing Saddles.  Yes, kids, we've got a Turkish comedy-western on our hands and, as you'd expect from Yilmaz, the technical work is stellar while the comedy - think lots of Turks in red-face - teeters right on the edge of bad taste.  Check the first trailer below!