His identity as a whistleblower remained a stigma on the later part of his life: Who is Elia Kazan?

They immigrated to America when he was four years old.

The 'New World' opened up new horizons for him as well. He wanted to be a theater actor, so he went to Yale School of Drama, and then he joined the famous acting instructor Lee Strasberg's Group Theatre. He also appeared as an actor but mainly shaped his art journey as a director.

REACHED TO OSCAR IN 1948

His first feature was in 1945 ("A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"). 'Gentleman's Agremeent' was nominated for eight Oscars in 1948, and managed to reach sculptures in three categories, 'Best Film' and 'Best Director'. Filmed in 1951 and starring Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando, and Kim Hunter ('A Streetcar Named Desire'), it was a brilliant Tennessee Williams adaptation. Marlon Brando ('On the Waterfront'), who tells the story of a boxer's rebellion against the system as a dockworker and his rebellion with the workers behind him, was also nominated for 12 Oscars in 1955 and won eight awards. John Steinbeck's adaptation ("East of Eden"), one of the most famous steps in his filmography, was one of the rare productions in which James Dean, one of the biggest icons of cinema, died at a young age.

Elia Kazan (born Elias Kazantzoglou September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003) was an American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by The New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history".

Another memorable film was 'Viva Zapata!', about the struggle of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata against the brutal dictator Porfirio Diaz. In addition to Marlon Brando, Jean Peters, and Anthony Quinn also took part in the production, which was engraved in the minds with its unforgettable finale. One of the important turning points in Kazan's cinema adventure was 1963's 'America America'. The film tells a story about the dreams of two young people, one Greek (Stavros) and the other Armenian (Vartan), to immigrate from Istanbul to America. The story, which takes place in the chaotic environment of the last period of the Ottoman Empire, does not remember the environment very well.

TWO IMPORTANT STEPS TO CINEMA

Besides Elia Kazan's great films, there are two important steps in the history of cinema. One is that he founded 'Actor's Studio' with Cheryl Crawford and Robert Lewis. Developed under the directorship of Ki Lee Strasberg, this studio taught the 'Method' technique, which emphasizes the actors being the characters they play based on their own life experiences. Among the students of this school were names such as Montgomery Clift, Julie Harris, Eli Wallach, Maureen Stapleton, Karl Malden as well as Marlon Brando.

REPORTED FRIENDS

Kazan's deepest and most unforgivable move was that as a former Communist Party member, he testified to the committee established in the famous "McCarthy investigations" and denounced some of his friends there. Thus, he joined the 'witch hunt', and he fell out with some names, especially Arthur Miller and Orson Welles, forever. This whistleblower identity remained a stain on him for the next part of his life. He made a film about the laborers in 'On the Waterfront', and many critics saw this as a move for self-forgiveness. The Academy gave him a special award in 1999 for his achievements. While the award was presented by Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, many names in the hall (including Nick Holte, Ed Harris, Ian McKellen, Amy Madigan, etc.) did not applaud Kazan, did not stand up and protested.

HE SAID 'I AM FROM ANATOLIA'

Elia Kazan has never forgotten his roots. He visited Turkey from time to time and went to his village (Germir) in Kayseri. He defined himself as 'Anatolian'; “I am neither Greek nor Turkish nor American. I am Anatolian,” he said.

He died in Manhattan on September 28, 2003, at the age of 94. He didn't make any self-criticism about his 'snitch'. It was written and drawn that the statements he gave in the commission were also effective in the success of his films, but this was not a correct judgment, his works were really effective in terms of cinema. But in the test of humanity, it could not be said that he was as successful as on the big screen.

'I DON'T APPEAL'

The famous director was the head of the jury of the "International Competition" at the Istanbul Film Festival (then it was called "Cinema Days") in April 1988. Five films were tried to be censored that year. Events developed in such a way that Kazan, who had no intention of intervening in the situation at first, took a step towards reacting by meeting with the festival management. Then he read a text protesting the oppression in Turkish at SESAM in Cercle d'Orient on Istiklal Street, which is now demolished. He then walked from Galatasaray to Taksim Square with Turkish filmmakers. Kazan received the "Honorary Award" from the Istanbul Film Festival in 1997. During this period, he had an interview with Ahu Antmen from the newspaper Cumhuriyet and there about denouncing his filmmaker friends during the McCarthy era, "I did what I believed was right. I'm not apologizing. I am not ashamed. And it doesn't make me unhappy.”