One hundred years after the Battle of Gallipoli , a new Hollywood film starring and directed by Russell Crowe is poised to generate new interest in a region in Turkey where one of the darkest campaigns of the First World War was waged . The Water Diviner is believed to be the first feature film to shoot scenes inside Istanbul 's famous Blue Mosque , which gained its name from its blue tiles . The film visits some of the key battleground areas as well as some of Turkey 's beauty spots while telling a fictional tale that is built around the bloody campaign which lasted nearly a year . In The Water Diviner , Russell Crowe plays a farmer who travels to Turkey to find his three missing sons as a promise to his late wife . The Water Diviner , due in cinemas on April 3 , was the first feature film to be given access to film inside Istanbul 's Blue Mosque . Much of the film was shot on location in Istanbul , in the bustling markets , as well as Gallipoli itself and the ‘ ghost-village ’ of Kayakoy . From April 1915 to January 1916 , a 70,000 strong Allied army stormed Turkey in an effort to open up a supply route to provide Russia with much-needed supplies . The campaign , a major Allied failure , was seen as one of the greatest Ottoman victories . In Turkey , it is widely regarded as a defining moment in the nation 's history ; a final surge in the defence of the motherland as the Ottoman Empire crumbled . The Water Diviner , a historical fictional drama based on the book of the same name by Andrew Anastasios and Dr Meaghan Wilson-Anastasios , sees Crowe play the role of an Australian farmer who travels to Turkey after the Battle of Gallipoli . The Gallipoli campaign was one of the greatest Ottoman victories during the First World War ( pictured : Russell Crowe on location ) The film sees Russell Crowe 's character , Joshua Connor , travelling to Turkey to find his three sons who fought in the Battle of Gallipoli . Arriving in Istanbul , Russell Crowe 's character falls in love with a beguiling Turkish hotelier and travels to the Gallipoli Peninsula . Crowe 's character has lost his three sons who fought for the ANZACS in the conflict , and has promised his late wife he will find them . Arriving in Istanbul , he falls in love with the beguiling Turkish hotelier and travels to the Gallipoli Peninsula . Much of the film was shot on location in Istanbul , in the bustling markets and in the glorious Blue Mosque , and it was reportedly the first time a feature film has been given access to the building . As well as filming in Istanbul and Gallipoli itself , several scenes from the movie were shot in the ‘ ghost-village ’ of Kayaköy , which lays partially abandoned as a result of the enforced population exchange between Turkish and Greek citizens in 1923 . The film focuses on the bond of family and tells the story of the Gallipoli campaign from the Turkish point of view . From April 1915 to January 1916 , a 70,000 strong Allied army tried to push Turkey out of the war ( pictured : Russell Crowe , right ) The bloody Gallipoli campaign was a major Allied failure ; but in Turkey , it is widely regarded as a defining moment in the nation 's history . The film sees Russell Crowe ( right ) making his directorial debut from the screenplay written by Andrew Knight and Andrew Anastasios . The main character , Connor , must travel across the war-torn landscape with the help of a Turkish First World War veteran . As well as Russell Crowe ( pictured ) , the film 's co-stars include Olga Kurylenko , Jai Courtney , Cem Yılmaz and Yılmaz Erdoğan . The Water Diviner had its premiere at the State Theatre in Sydney , Australia in December , but is n't being released in the UK until April . Today , Gallipoli and its surrounding areas remain largely unspoilt , due to strict conservation orders on all development . Kaya Valley , pictured . Turkey travel specialist , Exclusive Escapes , has introduced a new Gallipoli Tour to tie-in with the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign . The Water Diviner was filmed in and around Istanbul , including its famous Blue Mosque , which gets its name from its blue tiles . Today , Gallipoli and its surrounding areas remain largely unspoilt , due to strict conservation orders on all development . Around it , untouched forests , scrub and farmland and sunflowers flourish . With the film 's anticipated release in the UK , tour operators in Turkey - a popular destination for British holidaymakers - are hoping to see an influx of visitors who are curious to visit the battleground and other key sites . Turkey specialist , Exclusive Escapes , has introduced a brand new Gallipoli tour to tie-in with the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign and the release of The Water Diviner , in UK cinemas from April 3 . Guests can fly into Istanbul , and be escorted by a private driver and a guide to the key sites including the Anzac sector , Cape Helles , the main British section , and well as a side-trip to the Unesco heritage site at Troy . Those wishing to extend the trip can also incorporate Ephesus , staying in nearby Alaçati at the boutique Alavya , the town ’ s newest luxury hotel .
This April sees the 100th anniversary of Gallopoli , one of the darkest periods of the First World War . The bloody campaign was one of the greatest Ottoman victories during the war and a major Allied failure . Cem Yılmaz new film , The Water Diviner , due for release in April , was shot on location in and around Istanbul . Film crew also had access to the city's Blue Mosque – reportedly a first for any feature film . A Turkish tour operator is offering visitors the chance to visit some of the film 's most beautiful locations .