ART OF LOVE/ Romantik Hirsiz

Turkey, 2024, 98 minutes, Colour.

Esra Bilgic, Birkan Sokullo.

Directed by Recai Karagöz.

Western audiences do not see many Turkish romantic comedies. Here is an opportunity.

While the film is Turkish with a Turkish cast, it certainly resembles Hollywood romantic comedies – think Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie!

And, it is in the tradition of To Catch a Thief, the central character being an art expert but also a member of Interpol, involved with her partner to pursue a thief who is expert, steals paintings which are not considered so valuable, and disappears.

And, the thief is very suave, with two assistants, IT surveillance backup, a driver for getaways, enabling him to steal paintings. He is wealthy and the thefts are all for his enjoyment and skills.

And, he has been in a relationship in the past with the Interpol investigator.

Lots of beautifully photographed locations, Budapest, Istanbul and, especially, Prague.

And, various twists in the relationship between the two as they meet again, she keeping secret her investigation, he with his own secrets.

The kind of easy entertainment that looks as if it could come from any country.

1. A To Catch a Thief romantic heist story? Turkish? But international in style? Hollywood style?
2. The range of locations, beautiful, glossy, Istanbul, Budapest, Prague, audiences enjoying immersion in the locations? The musical score?
3. Setting up the robberies, the range of paintings, not masterpieces, the thief, the IT connections, his assistant and her surveillance, advice? Getting the paintings out of the galleries? The further robberies, and Istanbul, and Prague, and from the entrepreneur’s underground gallery?
4. Interpol, Alin, the partnership with Ozan, the background, studies, police training, Interpol? Story of her relationship with Guney, his disappearance, the past love, reactions? Involvement in the case? Working with her partner, examining the provenance of all the paintings, making connections, the art of love, speculating about the next robbery in Istanbul? The proposal to the chief? His reservations?
5. The reappearance of Guney, wealthy businessman, entrepreneur, his press conference? Alin and her suspicions, trying to trap him, seeing him, his getting away? Her determination to trap him, the setup at the party, his seeing her, the flirtation, the relationship, her involvement, her leading him on, masked and invading the office, been caught by the assistant, her suspicions, the driver-partner? The invitation to go to Prague? Going to the rehearsal of the dance? His attentions to her, her response? Ozon and his keeping an eye on her?
6. Chasing him in Prague, his getting away? The return to Istanbul? Accompanying him to the party, the entrepreneur and his manner, boastful, taking down to his personal gallery, the tunnels, the security, the range of paintings? Guney and his decision to steal one?
7. The final robbery, the technology, the hologram, the face, the mask, the voice recordings? His getting in, means from his assistant, the pursuit of the entrepreneur? Alien and her presence, warning the entrepreneur? The successful robbery?
8. The police, Ozon and arresting the entrepreneur, charges?
9. Billy, collaboration with the police, keeping the paintings, and reuniting with a friend?
10. Turkish version of a romantic comedy?