“A True Gentleman” (2024, Original title: Tam Bir Centilmen) introduces us to Saygın, a male escort whose life revolves around being exactly what each woman in his world needs him to be—whether that’s an ex-boyfriend, a dangerous stranger, or a trusted confidant. One of Saygın’s wealthy clients gives Saygın an irresistible offer.
So Saygın decides to be loyal to the client Serap, but without her knowledge, Saygın falls in love. Even though Saygın understands his arrangement, he cannot stop thinking about the girl Nehir. After failed attempts to stay away from Nehir, Saygın dates Nehir and still enjoys the luxuries provided by Serap. One fine day, all hell breaks loose for Saygın as Serap finds out about Nehir.
This article contains spoilers.
A True Gentleman (Tam Bir Centilmen, 2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“A True Gentleman” opens with a narration by Saygın, a male escort/gigolo. Specifically, he explains that being a true gentleman in his line of work isn’t about the money. Instead, it’s about being everything a woman needs while remaining detached. For instance, for one woman, Saygın may be an ex-boyfriend; for another, he might be a dangerous stranger. Ultimately, it’s about helping them embrace their desires without shame.
Meanwhile, a commotion breaks out in a hotel lobby as Kado approaches a woman. Immediately, Saygın steps in, diffuses the situation with charm, and convinces the woman to forgive Kado. Later, in the locker room, Saygın advises Kado that the woman must make the first move. However, while Saygın uses subtlety, Kado is direct and unfiltered in his approach.
What arrangement do Saygın and Serap have?
To help Kado refine his style, Saygın takes him to a party. As Saygın heads upstairs, he notices Nehir’s heel break and promptly offers to help. Soon after, Nehir finds Saygın on the first floor, and they strike up a conversation. Gradually, they discover each other’s quirks—Nehir dislikes fireworks, while Saygın sees a story in each burst of light. Similarly, Saygın reveals that he hates overcooked pasta and song covers. Their conversation is interrupted when Saygın’s client, Serap, calls Saygın to a bedroom.
Inside the room, Saygın refuses to sleep with Serap, as Serap’s husband is also at the party. However, Serap proposes a deal: if Saygın doesn’t sleep with any other woman, Serap will buy him a house, a car, and anything else he desires. The next night, Saygın is seen in a luxurious apartment. Now Kado arrives with a pizza, so Saygın says Kado has a room in the house. The only condition is that Kado must leave whenever Serap visits.
In the new house, Saygın and Serap have sex. Later, while in the bathtub, Serap shares her concern about her daughter Fulya, who has no interest in celebrating her upcoming birthday. Serap believes this because Fulya feels insecure about her appearance, as her best friend is very attractive.
Saygın suggests using Kado to boost Fulya’s confidence at the party. Since Serap trusts Saygın, she agrees. At the party, Kado tries to be a gentleman while speaking to Fulya. Unexpectedly, Fulya’s best friend turns out to be Nehir. When Saygın approaches Nehir, she is still upset about being stood up at the previous party. Saygın apologizes and eventually reconciles with her.
What happens after Fulya’s birthday party?
After a while, Nehir starts singing, and her voice deeply moves Saygın. However, aware of his complicated situation, Saygın leaves the venue. Noticing Saygın leaving, Nehir follows Saygın outside. Struggling to express his emotions, Saygın tells Nehir there are many things to hate about him before walking away. Later, after getting drunk at a bar, Saygın returns to find Nehir inebriated. Saygın decides to take her home, leaving Fulya with Kado. At home, Saygın lets Nehir take the couch and prepares to go, but Nehir asks him to stay with her.
Reluctantly, Saygın stays and soon passes out. A frightening nightmare about Serap wakes up Saygın. As soon as Saygın stirs, Kado informs Saygın that Nehir is waiting at the bus stand. Saygın picks her up without hesitation, and they settle in to watch a film together. The movie, centered on a sex worker’s love, makes Nehir cry throughout. Meanwhile, Kado struggles with a client who has BDSM fetishes that make him uncomfortable.
That night, Serap surprises Saygın with a visit, mentioning that Fulya had a great time. After learning that Fulya and Kado have exchanged numbers, Serap asks Saygın to ensure Kado does not date Fulya. When Serap attempts to sleep with Saygın, he refuses, claiming he’s tired. Consequently, Serap pays Kado and leaves.
Why does Saygın not tell Serpa that he loves Nehir?
When Saygın gives Kado money and asks him to ignore Fulya’s calls and messages, Kado becomes furious. Since Saygın is interested in Nehir, Kado doesn’t understand why it’s a problem for him to see Fulya. The following day, Serpa learns that Fulya is meeting Kado for dinner. Consequently, Serpa storms into Saygın’s house, yelling at Kado to leave Fulya alone. Then, Serpa turns her anger on Saygın, ordering him never to ignore her calls or requests again.
After Serpa leaves, Kado tells Saygın that if he loves Nehir but is sleeping with Serpa for money, then he is a whore. Later that night, Saygın receives a call from Nehir about a fire in her dorm. As soon as Saygın arrives, he hugs Nehir tightly and brings her home. Once there, Saygın reveals that his mother died in a fire when he was young, and Kado tried to save her but couldn’t. That night, Nehir comforts Saygın. Saygın drops her off at school the next day and promises to pick her up later.
Afterward, Saygın calls Serpa to discuss the situation and learns that she may have cervical cancer. As a result, Saygın dedicates his time to caring for her. That night, Saygın visits Nehir’s dorm to apologize for missing her at school. They return to his house and have sex. Late that night, Kado arrives home, and Saygın wants to know where Kado has been. Seeing Saygın with Nehir infuriates Kado, who lashes out at Saygın. Outside, they argue loudly, and Nehir overhears some of their exchange. In his anger, Kado mentions that Saygın’s house is not his and is paid for by someone else. Meanwhile, Serpa learns from Fulya that Nehir is dating Saygın.
A True Gentleman (Tam Bir Centilmen, 2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Will Saygın and Nehir meet again?
The next day at school, Nehir introduces Saygın to Serpa. Meanwhile, Nehir grows suspicious of Saygın. Later, at the house, Saygın tells Serpa he will move out and indirectly confesses his love for Nehir. However, Saygın asks Serpa not to tell Nehir, believing Nehir won’t be able to handle it. In anger, Serpa insists that Saygın should leave Nehir alone, claiming Nehir has a future and doesn’t need to date a gigolo.
As a final favor, Serpa asks Saygın to hold her close. They lie on the bed, unaware Nehir is walking up the stairs. As soon as Nehir sees them, Nehir runs out of the house. Serpa tries to explain, but Nehir figures out that Saygın is a gigolo. Before leaving, Nehir tells Serpa not to follow her as Fulya waits outside.
Afterward, Saygın gets drunk and calls Kado, asking to move back in with him, declaring that his life is over. Additionally, Saygın calls himself a whore and apologizes to Kado for past insults. Meanwhile, Kado gets into a fight with a client. The next day, Saygın wakes up, relieved to see Kado home. Unfortunately, Kado has overdosed on pills and is dead. After cremating Kado, Saygın cries as he breaks the car.
From a distance, Nehir sees a devastated Saygın and chooses to leave him alone. Three years later, Saygın has become a chef. Late at night, some musicians request food, and Nehir, a band member, hears Saygın’s voice. Curious, Nehir looks up and starts chatting with Saygın. After exchanging pleasantries, Nehir invites Saygın to her first performance with the band.
In the end, Nehir and Saygın meet after three years, and now there is a chance that they may both start dating each other, especially because Saygın is no longer a gigolo or bound by client requirements. Nehir did go after her dreams of becoming a performer and is also composing her own songs rather than doing only covers of the originals.
We are not sure what happened to Serpa, as it seems she was ultimately diagnosed with cancer. But what happened after that is unknown. We also don’t know if Nehir and Fulya are still friends, especially after what Nehir saw. Moreover, we don’t have a lot of answers for the side story, but in Saygın’s story, he has changed the way he wants to live, especially after Kado’s death.
A True Gentleman (Tam Bir Centilmen, 2024) Movie Review:
A True Gentleman centers on a gigolo torn between the allure of the luxurious life offered by a wealthy client and his desire to pursue true love with the woman he’s fallen for. While the premise holds great potential for a captivating transformation from a charming gigolo to a changed man due to love, the story’s execution falls flat, veering into predictability and lackluster excitement.
The character Saygın is meant to be a charming young man, yet this quality is scarcely showcased throughout the film. In the early scenes, we briefly see Saygın advising Kado and charming Nehir, but after that, it seems as if he doesn’t need to exert any effort; women simply fall for him without any real charm or effort on his part. Unfortunately, the acting fails to convey Saygın’s supposed charisma; he does not come across as the smooth operator the story intended him to be. This is mainly due to the inadequate development of the characters and their narratives.
The supporting characters feel like mere placeholders, lacking depth and purpose. The script meanders, failing to establish any significant backstories aside from Saygın’s. Kado’s bizarre encounters with clients and his insecurities within the gigolo profession come off as fillers rather than meaningful contributions to the narrative. Many of Kado’s outbursts feel contrived, inserted solely to elicit Saygın’s reactions rather than serve the story’s progression.
Kado, clearly a foil to Saygın, suffers from lazy writing that neglects to explore his character fully. Even Saygın’s tragic backstory—losing his mother in a fire and Kado’s attempt to save her—adds layers of unnecessary complexity without enriching the narrative. This subplot awkwardly connects to Saygın’s realization of his love for Nehir, but ultimately, it feels forced and convoluted.
The film suffers from rushed and careless writing, lacking the necessary thoughtfulness in both story and character development, leading to a haphazard execution. The one redeeming quality of A True Gentleman lies in its portrayal of Gigolos’s challenges. Through Kado, we witness the insecurities that arise as he ages in a demanding profession, desperately striving to maintain his appearance and vitality while grappling with jealousy toward younger counterparts like Saygın.
Simultaneously, Saygın’s journey highlights the emotional struggles of loving someone while entrenched in the gigolo lifestyle, revealing the profound loneliness that can accompany such a life. However, these themes are not fully explored. With stronger writing and performances, A True Gentleman could have emerged as a remarkable film; instead, it ultimately misses the mark.
