Türkiye Sinemasında İstanbul’un Otogarları Üzerine Bir İnceleme (1971-1987)
A Study on Istanbul’s Bus Terminals in the Cinema of Türkiye (1971-1987)

Summary/Abstract: In the cinema of Türkiye, urban spaces and migration stories—specifically those concerning Istanbul—have appeared as both indispensable elements and main themes. The transformation of individuals migrating from Anatolia to Istanbul became a defining topic of the cinema from the 1960s onwards. This study investigates the reflection of Istanbul's first official bus terminals in the films of this period: Harem Bus Terminal (1970) and Topkapı Bus Terminal (1971). Although Haydarpaşa Station is traditionally viewed in social science literature as the gateway to the city, this perspective overlooks the crucial role of road transport. By analyzing Harem and Topkapı as places of arrival and departure, this study highlights the importance of bus travel in migration history. Following transportation policy shifts after 1950, bus terminals became the de facto entry points to the city. To fill the gap in the literature, ten films from 1971 to 1987 were analyzed via content analysis, discussing the interplay between Istanbul, bus terminals, and road transport in migration narratives.

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