Agir Kelepçe (translated as Heavy Handcuffs) is 1982 drama film directed by Turkish filmmaker Yücel Uçanoğlu. It is a poignant example from the history of Turkish cinema where social and emotional issues are represented diversely. While possibly not as well-known abroad as perhaps some other films of Turkey, it still deserves attention for the representation of justice, crime and punishment as perceived within the Turkish culture.
Plot Summary:
The topic of the film is about a man who has been headed out for the accused of a crime for which he has not done any suspicious act. Handcuffs: A heavy “handcuffs” cries to the title as a painful injustice that surrounds the protagonist’s day to day life as he fights for survival within a rotten criminal justice system. The central character is trying to get rid of the stigma while suffering emotional and psychological torment. His odyssey tackles issues of morality, forgiveness, and justice.
Themes:
Injustice & Redemption: The plot of the film/instance includes that the male character attempts to clear dishonor placed upon him and this can be grateful incorporated with quest for justice through moral standards.
Corruption & Crime: In this regard, the attention brings up an important question which the movie investigates i.e. how does the corruption of the society and the establishments which are meant to serve it affects the people.
Human Suffering: The suffering is a practical representation of how imprisonment and negative attitude of society affects the mental state of an individual.
As Agir Kelepçe was made and released in the early 1980s, it portrays the socio-political issues of Turkey in that era which was undergoing extreme political changes and turbulence. The film is best remembered for its intense acting and criticism of the establishment of justice.
