Manisa Kula İlçesi 1983

Kula possesses a unique geological structure formed by volcanic eruptions. The city center is described as a "living museum" due to its well-preserved residential texture, which bears traces partly of the Ottoman Empire and partly of the Germiyanoğulları Principality. The district of Kula is located in the Central Western Anatolian part of the Aegean Region, within the borders of Manisa Province. Located east of Manisa Province, it is one of the largest districts in the province, covering 981 square kilometers. Its elevation is 720 meters above sea level. The district is bordered by Demirci and Selendi to the north, Alaşehir to the south, Eşme to the east, and Salihli to the west. The Kula-Salihli Geopark, part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, is located within the district. Suha Arın's 1983 documentary "Three Days in Kula" aims to introduce Kula, a museum city with historic houses reflecting traditional Turkish architecture, to its architectural, cultural, and social aspects, and to raise public awareness for its preservation. The Kula district of Manisa has been a settlement that has encompassed the most distinctive examples of traditional Turkish architecture for 700 years. However, changing conditions are affecting not only the traditional architecture but also the lifestyle, customs, and traditions of the Kula people. It's not just the architectural fabric that is gradually disappearing and being abandoned. The three-day Kula weddings, the bazaars with bazaars, and the "yarens" (brothers' associations)—the solidarity organizations of the ahi-guild tradition—are also facing the same fate. The documentary features the collaborative wedding preparations, the 'okus' (readers) who visit the homes of relatives and friends to invite them to the wedding, the dowry carriers, and the traditional yarens (tradesmen and craftsmen) who gather at weddings and gatherings to perform special tasks. The yarens perform a distinctive music originating in Central Asia, while the female musicians lead the festivities at the bride's house. These celebrations culminate in a henna ceremony on the second night, a kind of lament. Filmed over thirty days, the documentary "Three Days in Kula" features the people of Kula and the Kula Yaren team. In addition to a professional team, forty students from Suha Arın's School of Press and Broadcasting at Ankara University participated in the film's production. Content Preparation, Voiceover: Kadir Tanrıkulu