The Bandit (1996)

The Bandit (1996) is a tense, emotionally charged crime drama and thriller about time, betrayal and the price of revenge. When Baran — a legendary bandit — is finally released after 35 years behind bars, he finds a world almost unrecognizable: his home village is submerged beneath a reservoir, and the life he once knew has been erased. Driven by one goal, he heads to Istanbul to find Berfo, the friend who betrayed him, stole his gold and stole Keje, the woman he loved. On the way he meets Cumali, a streetwise young punk from Beyoğlu whose life of bars, gambling and petty crime both amuses and exasperates Baran. Their uneasy partnership draws Baran deeper into the city’s underworld: from crumbling backstreet hotels to violent encounters with a crime boss, and into the desperate schemes of people like Emel, whose imprisoned brother needs money to survive. Baran’s old-fashioned codes of honor collide with the ruthless modern city, turning a personal quest into a dangerous, morally murky odyssey. Viewers should expect a gritty, atmospheric ride — lyrical moments of melancholy and loss mixed with sudden bursts of violence and suspense. The film centers on powerful character work: an aging outlaw out of time, a restless youth hungry for status, and a love that became legend. It’s both a slow-burning character study and a taut thriller: evocative landscapes and urban decay, a mournful tone, moral complexity, and a final reckoning that asks what vengeance really costs. Content warnings: violence, criminal activity and adult themes.

Actors: Sener Sen, Ugur Yücel, Sermin Hürmeriç

Director: Yavuz Turgul

Runtime: 128 min

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

6.6 /10 8.1 /10 7.3 /10