Selcen Ergun’un Kar ve Ayı Filminde Ayı Etrafındaki Bazı İnanmalar
Certain Beliefs About the Bear in Selcen Ergun’s Movie Sow and the Bear

Summary/Abstract: Nature holds an important place in ancient Turkic beliefs. In the ancient Turkic belief system, there is a “cult” centered on nature. Elements of nature such as water, forests, trees, and animals are also considered sacred and are associated with this cult. Among Turkic tribes, the bear has been regarded with both reverence and fear. There are long-standing beliefs that the bear is the ancestor of humans and carries a sacred essence within itself. The film Snow and the Bear (Kar ve Ayı), directed by Selcen Ergun and written by Yeşim Aslan and Selcen Ergun, was released in 2023. The story of the film reflects traces of ancient beliefs surrounding the bear, extending from the animistic period of Turkic Shamanism to the postIslamic era. Nature plays a central role in key moments of the film’s narrative. The movie incorporates various beliefs related to the bear cult, such as the idea that the bear is the spirit of the forest, that it embodies certain human qualities, and taboos associated with bear hunting. Additionally, the film reveals traces of ancient Turkic beliefs in the personality traits of its characters. With these features, Snow and the Bear distinguishes itself from other works in Turkish cinema. This study examines the film’s approach to the human–nature relationship within the context of nature cults and analyzes the reflections of Shamanistic traditions in its narrative.

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