Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde

Since DMTC's YPT is opening "The Wizard of Oz" Saturday afternoon, I decided to watch the Turkish version of the story.

"Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde (Little Ayşe and the Magic Dwarfs in the Land of Dreams) is a 1971 film by Turkish film director Tunç Başaran. One of the late films of a cycle of nearly forty films featuring Zeynep Değirmencioğlu (b. 1954; ret. 1974) as Ayşecik (Little Ayşe)."

I particularly like the China Dolls, the Hammerheads, and how the Cowardly Lion looks like Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Here's the plot summary:

"A little girl named Ayşa lives with her parents on a farm, where they often feed the chickens or harvest crops. One day, however, there is a terrible tornado. Her dog is locked inside, so she rushes back to the house. But at that moment, strong winds blow the cottage off its foundation and into the sky. When the house lands, she opens the front door and peeks outside. Given a protective kiss and a pair of silver shoes by the Northern Sorceress and promised aid by seven munchkins, she sets out to find the Great Wizard. Through the grasslands and forests, she encounters Korkuluk (the Scarecrow) and in the forest she meets Teneke Koruadam (the Tin Woodman), and Korkak Aslan (the Cowardly Lion). Keşkin Zeka demands that they kill the Wicked Witch (Kötü Cadı) of the South (Suna Selen) in order to receive their wishes. But Ayşecik and Korkak Aslan are imprisoned in the witch's jail-house after their friends are destroyed by her army of soldiers. Aysecik comes into the jail-house, carrying a heavy, tin bucket but the sets it down as the wicked witch orders her to wash the floor. The girl trips over a string and her left shoe lands on the floor, the wicked witch picks up the shoe and teases Ayşecik. Ayşecik picks up her bucket of water and throws it at her, the witch screams as her servants run away but then she begins to tremble, then she finally evaporates into thin air. The witch's former subjects willingly restore Korkuluk and Teneke Koruadam. Back at the Emerald City, Keşkin Zeka admits to being a fraud, delivers trinkets to Ayşecik's friends, and accidentally leaves her behind in his balloon escape, so they set off on their journey again, meeting again the china dolls, the hammer-wielding cavemen (loosely based on Baum's Hammerheads) and then start to dance, then, after the Good Sorceress tells her how to use her shoes, Aysecik bids farewell to her friends, clicks her heels, and ends up home."