Palm D'Or nominated feature by the director of Distant (2002). This is nearly as good as that one. Like it, it's a slow, contemplative art film about relationships. This one stars the director and his wife, Ebru Ceylan, as an unhappily married couple on vacation. They mutually decide to break up. Much of the rest of the film follows the husband trying to cope with his loss. The latter part of the film has him follow his wife to a snowy mountain region where she has moved for work. I hate to harp on it, and I frequently attack others who have this complaint about films, but the main problem with Climates is that the protagonist is incredibly unlikeable. Like I said, I hate to have that complaint, because there are so many bad people in the world. Why shouldn't some movies explore the less than enviable characters? I suppose, though - and this is how I felt about this film - spending a lot of time with such a character can become something of a bummer. Yet he is a human being, and I do like that Ceylan explores him. He's not exactly redeemed by the end (there's a certain act in the movie that's pretty much unforgivable), but we understand him. The end of the film makes it well worth seeing (besides, it's only just over 90 minutes anyway). Those final two scenes are exquisite. Despite my complaints, this is worthwhile.
