Selcen Ergun’un Kar ve Ayı Filminde Ayı Etrafındaki Bazı İnanmalar

Nature holds an important place in ancient Turkic beliefs. In the ancient Turkicbelief system, there is a “cult” centered on nature. Elements of nature such aswater, forests, trees, and animals are also considered sacred and are associatedwith this cult. Among Turkic tribes, the bear has been regarded with both reverenceand fear. There are long-standing beliefs that the bear is the ancestor of humansand carries a sacred essence within itself. The film Snow and the Bear (Kar veAyı), directed by Selcen Ergun and written by Yeşim Aslan and Selcen Ergun, wasreleased in 2023. The story of the film reflects traces of ancient beliefs surroundingthe bear, extending from the animistic period of Turkic Shamanism to the postIslamic era. Nature plays a central role in key moments of the film’s narrative. Themovie incorporates various beliefs related to the bear cult, such as the idea that thebear is the spirit of the forest, that it embodies certain human qualities, and taboosassociated with bear hunting. Additionally, the film reveals traces of ancient Turkicbeliefs in the personality traits of its characters. With these features, Snow and theBear distinguishes itself from other works in Turkish cinema. This study examinesthe film’s approach to the human–nature relationship within the context of naturecults and analyzes the reflections of Shamanistic traditions in its narrative

Film in Education and Therapy · Historical Turkish Studies · Mathematics · Media Discourse and Social Analysis