Trickster
A returning expatriate exploits a village’s belief in miracles until accidental sainthood carries him into local politics.
Overview
A con man becomes an unlikely hero in a village desperate for miracles.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- warm
- classic comedy night
- lazy sunday
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rıfkı is treated as a saint after coincidences make villagers believe he can control rain and heal people.
The villagers’ faith in Rıfkı leads them to ask him to run for mayor despite his fraudulent methods.
Rain prayers, healing claims, and fortune-opening rituals determine how the community understands Rıfkı.
Rıfkı repeatedly converts coincidences and villagers’ expectations into opportunities for manipulation.
Films like Trickster, and why
Zübük
shared Turkish social comedy, populist satire, and a charismatic trickster protagonist
Davaro
shared rural Turkish setting, broad comic performance, and critique of local power structures
Kibar Feyzo
shared Kemal Sunal-led village comedy, social absurdity, and outsider navigating communal expectations
Movie Details
- Director
- Natuk Baytan
- Release Date
- 1981-10-01
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (67)
Cast
- Kemal Sunal
- Ali Şen
- Turgut Özatay
- Ülkü Özen
- Reha Yurdakul
- Necdet Kökeş
- Nizam Ergüden
- Yadigar Ejder
- Süheyl Eğriboz
- Kudret Karadağ
Common questions
- What is Trickster about?
- A returning expatriate exploits a village’s belief in miracles until accidental sainthood carries him into local politics.
- What is Trickster like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Trickster as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Trickster violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Trickster.
- Which films are like Trickster?
- Films with a similar feel include Zübük, Davaro, and Kibar Feyzo.
- How long is Trickster?
- Trickster runs 88 minutes.
