Cem Yılmaz
Ayzek
Overview
A middle-aged man emerges from a pandemic slump with a new job at a quiet hotel, until some eccentric guests turn his first night into a wild adventure.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readA Night in the Hotel of Lost Souls
I’ve spent the last few days trying to decide if Do Not Disturb is a film that knows exactly what it wants to be and fails to pull it off, or if its messy, meandering heart is the whole point. Cem Yılmaz’s latest is a dark comedy that drifts into something far stranger—a fever dream set in a hotel that feels less like a physical space and more like the inside of a man’s unquiet mind. It’s the kind of movie that leaves you with more questions than answers, and whether that’s a flaw or a feature depends entirely on how much patience you have for ambiguity.
The premise is simple enough: Ayzek, a middle-aged former ferry waiter (played by Yılmaz himself), takes a night shift job at a nearly empty hotel, hoping for a quiet evening. Instead, he gets a parade of eccentric guests—an influencer, a grieving mother, a man who may or may not be a ghost—each bringing their own brand of chaos. The film’s first act plays like a Turkish Fawlty Towers, with Yılmaz’s deadpan performance anchoring the absurdity.
But somewhere around the midpoint, the tone shifts. The jokes thin out, the lighting grows dimmer, and the hotel itself seems to warp, as if the walls are breathing. By the third act, I wasn’t entirely sure if I was watching a surreal drama or a man’s slow-motion nervous breakdown.
Yılmaz has cited Ömer Kavur’s Anayurt Oteli (Motherland Hotel) as an influence, and the comparison makes sense. Both films use the hotel as a psychological space, a liminal zone where characters confront their loneliness. But where Kavur’s film is a slow, suffocating descent into madness, Do Not Disturb is more like a pinball machine—bouncing between tones, genres, and even realities.
One minute, Ayzek is delivering a monologue about the crushing weight of modern life; the next, he’s trapped in a slapstick chase with a guest who may or may not be a figment of his imagination. The film’s inconsistency isn’t just a flaw; it’s its defining characteristic. (I’m still not sure if that’s a compliment.)
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsCem Yılmaz’s "Do Not Disturb" (2023): A Comedy-Drama Steeped in Inside Jokes and Nostalgia
Cem Yılmaz’s Do Not Disturb (2023) is the latest addition to the Turkish comedian-actor-director’s filmography, blending his signature humor with dramatic undertones. Running at 114 minutes, the film is a comedy-drama set in Turkey, though details about its plot remain scarce in available sources 
. latestnetflix.com's read is that what’s clear, however, is that Yılmaz’s style is as much a character in this project as the actors themselves—particularly for fans who’ve followed his career.
A Love Letter to Longtime Fans
Yılmaz’s work has always thrived on continuity, with recurring gags, callbacks, and inside jokes that reward loyal audiences. Do Not Disturb is no exception. According to early reactions, the film leans heavily on references to Yılmaz’s previous projects, making it a tougher sell for newcomers. One snippet notes that "to catch some of the jokes and dialogues, you really need to have watched his other movies and series beforehand" . This suggests the film operates almost like a meta-commentary on Yılmaz’s own career, weaving together threads from his past work into a new narrative. Whether this approach alienates casual viewers or delights his core fanbase remains to be seen, but it’s a bold choice for a director known for his self-referential humor.
The Cast: A Mix of Familiar Faces and New Collaborators
Yılmaz stars alongside a ensemble that includes both frequent collaborators and fresh faces. Ahsen Eroğlu, Celal Kadri Kınoğlu, and Özge Özberk—all familiar names in Turkish cinema—join him, alongside relative newcomers like Diren Polatoğulları [TMDB]. The chemistry between these actors, particularly Yılmaz’s dynamic with Eroğlu and Kınoğlu, is likely a key draw, though specifics about their roles or on-set dynamics haven’t surfaced in the available evidence.
What’s notable is the absence of any major behind-the-scenes drama or gossip in the snippets. Unlike some of Yılmaz’s earlier projects, which occasionally sparked tabloid chatter about on-set tensions or creative clashes, Do Not Disturb appears to have flown under the radar in that regard. Whether this is due to a smoother production process or simply a lack of leaks remains unclear.
Genre-Blending: Comedy Meets Drama
The film’s genre is officially listed as both comedy and drama , a combination Yılmaz has explored before. His ability to balance humor with poignant moments has been a hallmark of his career, and Do Not Disturb seems poised to continue that tradition. However, without more detailed reviews or interviews, it’s hard to gauge how successfully the film merges these tones. Early hints suggest the comedy may dominate, given Yılmaz’s reputation, but the dramatic elements could provide a surprising depth.
The Mystery of the 2025 Confusion
One oddity in the available evidence is a Rotten Tomatoes listing for a Do Not Disturb film dated 2025 . This appears to be a placeholder or error, as all other sources—including the film’s official TMDB page—confirm the release year as 2023 [TMDB]. It’s possible the 2025 entry is a mislabeled project or a future release in a different market, but for now, it’s best to treat it as an anomaly.
Thin on Behind-the-Scenes Drama
For a gossip piece, Do Not Disturb is frustratingly light on juicy details. There’s no mention of budget overruns, casting controversies, or directorial quirks in the snippets provided. Yılmaz’s films often generate buzz for their ambitious set pieces or technical challenges, but this time, the production seems to have been relatively quiet. That said, given Yılmaz’s hands-on approach—he’s known for writing, directing, and starring in his projects—it’s safe to assume he was deeply involved in every aspect of the film.
What’s Next for Yılmaz?
With Do Not Disturb now out in the world, fans will be watching to see how it performs critically and commercially. Yılmaz’s films often spark conversations in Turkey, and this one’s self-referential humor could either cement his status as a cult favorite or prompt a creative pivot. If the film’s jokes rely too heavily on nostalgia, it might struggle to attract new audiences, but for longtime followers, it could be a rewarding experience.
For now, the biggest takeaway is that Do Not Disturb is a film made by Yılmaz, for Yılmaz fans. Whether it transcends that niche remains to be seen.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.