Arabeks (2010): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2010, Arabeks is a documentary film directed by Cem Kaya, running about 58 minutes.

What it’s about. Turkish arabesque, with its bitter, fatalistic, and reproachful lyrics, first emerged as the rebellion music of the slums during the industrialisation era following the establishment of the republic. With the cultural destruction of the 1980 coup, it became a music genre for the masses. The film features pioneers of the genre, such as Orhan Gencebay, Ali Tekinture, Muhtesem Candan, and Burhan Bayar, who explain the birth of this cultural-musical phenomenon, while its evolution is interpreted by Ezel Akay, Kadir Copdemir, Haluk Cobanoglu, and Serhat Koksal. The soundtrack was selected from a wide range of venues, from beer houses to high-end restaurants, from amateurs to well-known producers.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Arabeks page.

If you liked it. Fans of Arabeks tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.