The Hopeless Ones (Umutsuzlar) (translated)

Yılmaz Güney both wrote and directed Umutsuzlar ("The Hopeless Ones"), a Turkish film in which he plays the lead as Fırat. Released on 1 December 1971, the colour production from Akün Film tells the love of a tough guy and a ballerina through emotional drama, action and musical touches. It reunited Güney with Filiz Akın for the first time since Prangasız Mahkumlar (1964); the two acted together in only two films in their careers. Umutsuzlar is counted among the more important titles in both artists' filmographies, and it was also Hikmet Taşdemir's first screen role.

At the centre of the story are Fırat, one of Istanbul's best-known tough guys, and the ballerina Çiğdem (Filiz Akın). They are in love, but the business Fırat runs keeps them apart. Unable to bear the separation, Fırat tries to create moments when he and Çiğdem can be alone. Meanwhile Tahta Bacak (Kazım Kartal), who has his eye on Fırat's position, waits for the chance to get rid of him. The cast also includes Hayati Hamzaoğlu, Nihat Ziyalan, Memduh Ün, Tuncer Necmioğlu, Şükriye Atav, Leman Akçatepe and Hikmet Taşdemir as Parmaksız.

The producer was İrfan Ünal, the music is by Yalçın Tura and the cinematographer was Gani Turanlı. Sources give the running time as between 87 and 91 minutes.