The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet (1976)
A daring Turkish reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet, with Fatma Girik as a woman driven by grief, ghosts, and the hunger for justice.
The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet - Movie Information
- Original Title: İntikam Meleği: Kadın Hamlet
- Release Year: 1976
- Directed by: Metin Erksan
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Music
- Runtime: 1h 26m
- Original Language: Turkish
- Spoken Languages: Turkish
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 1, 1976 (Turkey)
- Alternative Titles: Kadın Hamlet (TR), The Female Hamlet (US)
- Production Companies: Uğur Film
- Production Countries: Turkey
The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet - Plot
Hamlet returns home from drama school in United States, after the cold-blooded assassination of her father by her uncle, who has married Hamlet's mother. After seeing her father's ghost, Hamlet decides to feign insanity, in order to get to the truth.
The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet - Trailer
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The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Metin Erksan
Main Cast
- Fatma Girik
- Sevda Ferdağ
- Reha Yurdakul
- Ahmet Sezerel
- Nevra Serezli
- Orçun Sonat
- Yüksel Gözen
- İsmail Yavuz Selekman
- İhsan Gedik
- Baki Tamer
Writers
- Metin Erksan
Producers
- Memduh Ün
- Fatma Girik
- Metin Erksan
The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet - FAQs
Is The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet based on a true story?
No, it's not based on a true story. The film is a bold Turkish adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play Hamlet, reimagined with a female protagonist. Director Metin Erksan transplants the story into a contemporary Turkish setting while preserving the core themes of betrayal, revenge, and feigned madness.
Who plays Hamlet in this 1976 Turkish film?
Fatma Girik takes on the iconic role of Hamlet in this gender-swapped Turkish adaptation. Girik was one of the most celebrated actresses in Turkish cinema at the time, and her casting in this unconventional reimagining of Shakespeare's prince as a woman made the film particularly groundbreaking.
What is The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet about?
The film follows Hamlet, a young woman who returns home from drama school in the United States to find her father has been murdered by her uncle, who has since married her mother. After her father's ghost reveals the truth, Hamlet decides to feign insanity as she plots her revenge.
How does this film differ from Shakespeare's original Hamlet?
The most striking departure is the gender swap — the brooding Danish prince becomes a modern Turkish woman. Director Metin Erksan also relocates the story to contemporary Turkey, blending the Shakespearean tragedy with local cultural textures, music, and a distinctly 1970s Yeşilçam cinematic sensibility.
When was The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet released?
The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet was released on January 1, 1976, in Turkey. It stands as one of the more unusual and daring productions to emerge from the Yeşilçam era of Turkish cinema, a period known for its prolific and eclectic output.
Who directed The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet?
Metin Erksan directed the film. Erksan is one of the most significant figures in Turkish cinema history, best known internationally for Dry Summer (1964), which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. His willingness to experiment with genre and source material is very much on display here.
What genre is The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet?
The film blends Drama, Fantasy, and Music into a singular viewing experience. It carries the emotional weight of a revenge tragedy, the supernatural undertones of the ghost subplot, and musical elements that reflect the vibrant Yeşilçam tradition of weaving songs into dramatic narratives.
What are some similar films to The Angel of Vengeance?
If you enjoy unconventional adaptations and world cinema, you might also appreciate Steam: The Turkish Bath (1997) for its Turkish setting and dramatic depth, or Me Without You (2001) for its intense female-driven narrative. The Raspberry Reich (2004) and Torremolinos 73 (2003) similarly subvert familiar forms with bold creative choices.
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