Thread by @Istanbultelaviv

Yesterday I watched #TheClub (#Kulüp #Netflix). Since released days ago its taken over Turkish audiences w/its depiction of Jewish life in Istanbul in the 1950s. I admit hearing Ladino and seeing a life that once was brought tears to my eyes. Indeed its a beautiful story as well.

First a huge shout out to director @zeynepguntan (Zeynep Gunay Tan) for doing a brilliant job at bringing together a crew of actors, studio people, and much more. Especially for being so sensitive in capturing Jewish life, by including a set of advisors from the Jewish community.

I perhaps will write more on it later connecting it to some research I'm doing on Jewish communities in Turkey. I admit when watching its best to take off my "historian jacket." In this short thread, I will address some issues that stood out to me w/out giving away the scenario.

The depiction of Jewish Istanbul is important. Due to antisemitism and some leftist narratives opting to tell tragedies of others (Greeks and Armenians) Jews were often left out. This too at times was due to a Jewish community trying to hide the bad days portraying only the good.

The Club's portrayal of a Jewish Istanbul is one also ravaged by the discriminatory Wealth Tax. It was as if decades of silence were broken w/heart tearing scenes. Matilda seeing the Cuckoo clock on the wall made it clear. This was once her family's. It was taken away from them.

To be fair, a movie in 1999--Salkım Hanım’ın Taneleri--was not able to do this with the Jewish community opting out of taking part. The main Jewish characters of the book were switched with Armenian ones. However, the truth is, the silence has been broken. And, good that it has.

And, this show does not shy away from the fate of other non-Muslims, Greeks and Armenians (on questions of timing I will address below). I can't speak more to this w/out giving away the scenario but issues of hiding one's own identity comes out strong. Eventually life catches up.

Then there's adorable Selim Songur, a young gay Turkish singer torn between a family who rejects him and the trials and tribulations of the Club. One can only think of Zeki Muren. And, also by not declaring him gay, the series bypassed earlier gov attempts to curb gay characters.

I have questions but will hold off for now to let people watch it; such as timing of events (since events of 1942 Wealth Tax and 1955 pogroms etched in our mind). Also, there's the question of how an all-Muslim cast plays non-Muslims who make up only very small communities today.

So to end this thread, enjoy the story of Matilda and Rasel, of Orhan and Celebi--Niko and Aziz--of Ismet and Mordo, and of Selim and others. I can't wait for the next season to see how it develops. And, I imagine answering questions that I have posed. For now, anxiously waiting!