Documentary backdrop image for The City (1983)

Documentary backdrop image for The City (1983)

198360 minPGdocumentary

7.0/ 10(1 rating)• TMDB

Historical Events

The City

198360 minPGdocumentary

7.0/ 10(1 rating)• TMDB

Merlyn Solakhan roams every inch of Istanbul, capturing scenes of standing stones, balloons, kites, cars, and neighborhoods through her camera.

Historical Events

Genres

Directors

Merlyn Solakhan

Synopsis

Merlyn Solakhan roams every inch of Istanbul, capturing scenes of standing stones, balloons, kites, cars, and neighborhoods through her camera.

People

Martin Manzdirector

Merlyn Solakhan

Merlyn Solakhandirector

Aygen Baktırcast

Kahraman Baktırcast

Nevzat Açıkgöz

Nevzat Açıkgözcast

Synopsis

Istanbul's streets come alive through Merlyn Solakhan's lens in The City. The 1983 documentary captures a range of scenes, from standing stones to vibrant kites and bustling neighborhoods. Solakhan traverses the city, reflecting on its history and nature, both past and present. This essay film intertwines personal observation with broader reflections, offering a fresh perspective on Istanbul's identity. The film invites contemplation of the city's evolving image and its significance in the modern world.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

Man with a Movie Camera

1929•1h8m•★7.8TMDB

Six reels of film capture Soviet citizens in Moscow, Kiev, and Odessa during the late 1920s, focusing on their daily activities without actors or intertitles.

Man with a Movie Camera

Istanbul : Byzantium For Ever (2016)

Istanbul : Byzantium For Ever

Istanbul, home to 16 million people, has a rich history as Byzantium and Constantinople, reflecting a blend of tradition and modernity.

Istanbul : Byzantium For Ever

Istanbul - A Present from the Past (2023)

Istanbul - A Present from the Past

Hagia Sophia has been a symbol of Istanbul for close to 1,500 years, reflecting the city's cultural shifts and historical significance.

Istanbul - A Present from the Past

The Entire History of Constantinople (2023)

The Entire History of Constantinople

Istanbul served as a Roman capital for over 1,000 years, evolving through various names and cultures before becoming a modern metropolis.

The Entire History of Constantinople

Istanbul - A journey through the megacity (2025)

Istanbul - A journey through the megacity

Over 16 million people live shoulder to shoulder in Istanbul, a city marked by chaos, economic challenges, and a vibrant cultural scene.

Istanbul - A journey through the megacity

Hidden Secrets Beneath Our Cities (2025)

Hidden Secrets Beneath Our Cities

Ancient tunnels, forgotten chambers, and hidden vaults beneath cities like Edinburgh and Paris reveal the intricate history and engineering of urban civilization.

Hidden Secrets Beneath Our Cities

Legendary Cities: Athens, City of Gods (2024)

Legendary Cities: Athens, City of Gods

The Parthenon, measuring 70 meters long and 30 meters wide, served as a temple for Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, during Athens' golden age.

Legendary Cities: Athens, City of Gods

Relive One night in Istanbul Full Documentary 2005 (2019)

Relive One night in Istanbul Full Documentary 2005

Istanbul's vibrant nightlife and cultural richness are showcased through a captivating exploration of its unique experiences and local traditions.

Relive One night in Istanbul Full Documentary 2005

Influenza: The Hundred Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History (2019)

Influenza: The Hundred Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History

The 1918 influenza pandemic killed more people worldwide than combat during World War One.

Influenza: The Hundred Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History

Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi (2025)

Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi

In ancient Greece, the Oracle of Delphi served as a pivotal religious site where priestesses delivered prophecies attributed to the god Apollo.

Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi

Why Did Nasa Secretly Send 6 Men To The Bottom Of The Ocean In 1969? (2026)

Why Did Nasa Secretly Send 6 Men To The Bottom Of The Ocean In 1969?

In July 1969, NASA conducted a secret experiment involving six men in the PX-15 submarine, exploring the depths of the Gulf Stream for 30 days.

Why Did Nasa Secretly Send 6 Men To The Bottom Of The Ocean In 1969?

Pontius Pilate - Rome's Most Famous Governor Documentary (2026)

Pontius Pilate - Rome's Most Famous Governor Documentary

Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect known for presiding over the trial of Jesus Christ, navigated the political turmoil of first-century Jerusalem and faced a mysterious downfall.

Pontius Pilate - Rome's Most Famous Governor Documentary

Explore The City

Cast & Crew Topics FAQ

Where else to watch

Yearning (2015)

Yearning

2015•1h22m•★7.3TMDB

Istanbul's vibrant culture and hidden history are explored through Kadir Balci's investigation of the city's complex identity and heritage.

Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005)

Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul

2005•1h30m•★7.3TMDB

Fifteen artists, including Ceza and Sezen Aksu, contribute to a portrait of Istanbul's diverse music scene in this 90-minute documentary.

Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul

Metropolis (2015)

Metropolis

2015•1h35m•★5.2TMDB

Each episode features a different city, including Tokyo and Rome, revealing their historical and cultural significance through iconic landmarks and local cuisines.

Distant Constellation (2017)

Distant Constellation

2017•1h22m•★5.6TMDB

A woman recounts her experiences during the Armenian genocide while living in a retirement home in Istanbul, where personal histories intertwine with the city's transformation.

Distant Constellation

Browse more like this

Istanbul - A journey through the megacity (2025)

Istanbul - A journey through the megacity

Over 16 million people live shoulder to shoulder in Istanbul, a city marked by chaos, economic challenges, and a vibrant cultural scene.

Istanbul - A journey through the megacity

No digital watch option in your country

Legendary Cities: Athens, City of Gods (2024)

Legendary Cities: Athens, City of Gods

The Parthenon, measuring 70 meters long and 30 meters wide, served as a temple for Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, during Athens' golden age.

Legendary Cities: Athens, City of Gods

No digital watch option in your country

Invisible to the Eye (2020)

Invisible to the Eye

2020•1h25m•★6.3TMDB

Eremya Celebi Komurciyan provides detailed accounts of 17th century Istanbul, revealing aspects of the city that remain invisible today.

Invisible to the Eye

Ecumenopolis: City Without Limits (2011)

Ecumenopolis: City Without Limits

2011•1h33m•★7.6TMDB

Istanbul's population is projected to double from 15 million to 30 million residents, as urbanization leads to the demolition of neighborhoods.

Ecumenopolis: City Without Limits

Invisible City (2007)

Invisible City

2007•58m•★6.0TMDB

Five individuals share their experiences as photographers, journalists, and archaeologists in Singapore, reflecting on their connections to the city's past.

Our City Dreams (2022)

Our City Dreams

2022•1h25m•★7.4TMDB

Five women artists spend two years in New York City and beyond, sharing their unique perspectives on art shaped by diverse global experiences.

Our City Dreams

The City and the City (2022)

The City and the City

2022•1h27m•★3.0TMDB

Six chapters detail the near-total extermination of Thessaloniki's Jewish community in 1943 during the Holocaust, reflecting on its cultural heritage and loss.

The City and the City

Stadt (2015)

Stadt

2015•1h29m•★4.0TMDB

A train arrives, marking the start of a new day in a city where police officers rush to scenes and people celebrate under fireworks.

Image of an Assassination: A New Look at the Zapruder Film (1998)

Image of an Assassination: A New Look at the Zapruder Film

1998•1h28m•★7.6TMDB

Abraham Zapruder's footage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963, is digitally remastered to reveal new details and its impact on public perception.

Image of an Assassination: A New Look at the Zapruder Film

Dancing Through Life: The Dorothy Toy Story (2017)

Dancing Through Life: The Dorothy Toy Story

2017•26m•★10.0TMDB

At 99 years old, Dorothy Toy Fong continues to perform, demonstrating her lifelong dedication to tap dance and the joy it brings to audiences.

Dancing Through Life: The Dorothy Toy Story

Browse more by Martin Manz

View all films →

The City (2016)

The City

2016

Is this your film?

If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.

License it with us →