“And I just want to write, everything that comes from inside of me.”
Selim İleri, one of the most valuable and most successful Turkish writers and scenarists, passed away on January 10 2025, at the age of 75. He had been coping with various illnesses for a long time, and on the 10th of January, his condition got worse. He quickly got hospitalized and passed away on the same day. In a message on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's social media account, it was stated: "We have learned with deep sorrow about the passing of Selim İleri, one of the masterful figures of our literature, whose contributions to our literature and art world are unparalleled as a writer, screenwriter, and critic. We wish God's mercy upon the deceased and extend our condolences to his family, loved ones, and the literary community."
As stated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s message, Selim İleri had remarkably big contributions to the Turkish literature and culture. He lived in Istanbul, where he spent his student years, and later on in Germany. The first novel he wrote as a sophomore in high school, To Be Forgotten (Unutulmak, 1949), was not accepted by any publisher, so he tore it apart. This was the first novel that was not accepted by any newspaper or publisher, but not the last. Many of his work was not seen as good enough to be published in his early writing years. Through his high school teacher Vedat Günyol’s recommendation, he started writing short stories and his work finally started to be noticed. His first book “Saturday Loneliness/Fall Notes (Cumartesi Yalnızlığı/ Güz Notları)” was published in 1968 with the same teacher’s help and it was dedicated to his deceased father. In the same year, he started studying law in Istanbul University, but quit before graduating.
He soon started writing scripts and they were turned into movies such as “A Bunch of Violets (Bir Demet Menekşe)” and “Women Does It (Kadın Yapar)”. His brilliant writing and excellent fiction talent was seen by a wider audience and he soon won awards such as Sait Faik Abasıyanık Award and Turkish Language Association Novel Award through his novel called “Every Night Bodrum” (Her Gece Bodrum).
His scenario, “A Broken Love Story” (Kırık Bir Aşk Hikayesi), was turned into a movie in 1981 and won the Best Scenario of the Year Awards a year after. He then continued to write trials and plays as well as novels and scenarios. He continued to publish more books and scenarios consistently, and won various other awards. However, the most prestigious award that he won has to be the Presidential Grand Prize for Culture and Art for his major contributions to the Turkish literature. His outstanding work was recognized on a national, even an international level through his scenarios that are turned into successful movies recognized worldwide. He dedicated his 75-years-long life to literature and his work will always hold a significant part in Turkish literature.
His work included detailed reflections of people’s inner thoughts, and each person is able to find a part of themselves in his analysis of the mind. He also wrote about lack of communication between people, a problem that may be the starting point of all the other major issues in today’s world. His ideas and characters show us our own mind as humans and make us reflect on ourselves in a deeper way.
The passing away of Selim İleri is a great loss for Turkish literature and unutterable despair for all of us. His unique creations, his depth in touching human souls, and his unforgettable style will be preserved for generations ahead. İleri was a writer as well as a conscience and memory for literature, building a bridge between the past and the present, and enriching our cultural heritage. Words are insufficient to express this immense loss and pain.
Edited by: Oya Yamaç, Yağmur Ece Nisanoğlu