The film, directed by Muhsin Ertuğrul, the first director of the Turkish Republic era, is an adaptation of a story by Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf, the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The famous poet Nâzım Hikmet (who used a pseudonym in the credits) wrote the film’s screenplay. Filmed in the village of Çalı in Bursa, the story revolves around Aysel, who gets pregnant while working for Satilmiszade. However, Satilmiszade does not accept the child as his own, so Aysel applies to the court to get alimony. Ali, who is engaged to the daughter of one of the village elders, is very impressed by Aysel’s attitude in court and begins to take an interest in this young woman who is ostracised by everyone in their village. Regarded as the first Turkish film set in a village, the film invites the audience to engage with history through its intricate detail and authentic portrayal of the shooting locations. Aysel, Bataklı Damın Kızı, the shooting of which was completed in 1934 and released in January 1935, left a great mark on the history of Turkish cinema. Besides being directed by Muhsin Ertuğrul who started the sound era in Turkey, the film includes many of the important artists of the time. For instance, the legendary actress Cahide Sonku, who is also the first female director in Turkey, and the first Miss Turkey, Feriha Tevfik, take part in the film. The original music is composed by Cemal Reşit Rey, Turkey’s most important composer of the period.

Elif Ergezen