Fato Either Independence or Death-1951
Liberty or Death - Fato

Director: Turgut Demirağ
Producer: Turgut Demirağ
Screenplay: Hıfzı Tan (adapted from Hıfzı Topuz's novel Fato)
Year: 1951
Cinematographer: Kemal Baysal
Music:
Cast: Oya Sensev, Kadri Eroğan, Sadri Alışık, Cahit Irgat, Settar Körmükçü, Orhon Murat Arıburnu, Muzaffer Tema, Halit Akçatepe
Production Company: AND Film
Color: Black White
Country: Türkiye
Vision date:
Subject: "Learning that Izmir is occupied on the day of his wedding, Captain Necdet postpones his wedding and moves to Anatolia to join the Kuvayi Milliye. While the war continues on the Aegean front, Captain Necdet is given the task of blowing up a strategic bridge under Greek control with dynamite. Reaching the foothills of Umurbaba Mountain with a small team consisting of patriots named Mucurlu Mehmet Çavuş, Kütahyalı Halil Çavuş, Çakır, Çiloğlan, Memiş, Dursun and Orhan, Necdet realizes that it is very difficult to fulfill the task without knowing the geography of the region. A father living in a surrounding village and having a very difficult time due to the occupation, adds his daughter Fato, who knows the local area well, to Necdet's team. Fato not only delivers the team safely to the bridge. When fire was needed to explode the dynamite sticks placed at the feet of the bridge, he infiltrated the camp of the Greek troops and stole coal from there. Thus, the bridge is blown up and a conflict ensues. Greek troops launch a large-scale search operation in the region. During the team's retreat maneuver to the village, an emotional closeness begins between Captain Necdet and Fato. As a result of the clashes around the bridge and in the village where the team took shelter, Halil Çavuş, Mehmet Çavuş and Dursun were martyred. Necdet, who was injured, is saved thanks to Fato informing Çakır and Orhan. While Captain Necdet is being treated in the Red Crescent tent, Fato, who was injured in his foot, returns to his village in difficulties. He gets sick here. While Necdet regained his health, Izmir was also freed from enemy occupation. When Necdet comes to the village to take Fato to Izmir, where they will get married, he finds the young woman on her deathbed. He fulfills Fato's last wish and takes her in his arms and takes her to the window. The duo watches the passage of the Kuvayi Milliye troops advancing towards Izmir for a while, and in the meantime Fato dies.” (Mustafa Mert Atalar, 2022).

Notes about the movie:
The main point that distinguishes the movie Fato: Either Independence or Death from other War of Independence themed movies of its time is that the main protagonist of the movie is a woman. Fato fights with men on the front lines of the war and guides them when necessary. It has an important place in the struggle for national independence and represents our women who have resisted throughout history.

Contents related to the movie:
The female hero of the liberation of Izmir in Turkish cinema – Fato: Either Independence or Death (1951). Atalar, M. M. (2022). seven: Journal of Art, Design and Science, Izmir Special Issue, 123-131.

Source:
Atalar, Murtafa Mert. (2022). The female hero of the liberation of Izmir in Turkish cinema – Fato: Either Independence or Death (1951). seven: Journal of Art, Design and Science, Izmir Special Issue, 123-131.
Özgüç, Agâh. (2012). Encyclopedic Dictionary of Turkish Movies. Istanbul: Horizon International.
Özgüç, Agâh. (2014). Dictionary of Turkish Films 1914-2014. Istanbul: Republic of Turkey Culture and Tourism Ministry.