This drama, written and directed by Pelin Esmer, offers up some very stark realism in the Turkish mountains.
Olgun Simsek gives a strong performance, as Rihat, a carpenter by trade, but who has chosen to take a new job, in virtual isolation at a mountainside watchtower. We learn eventually that he is a spotter there for the Forestry Service, to observe and report forest fires that may spring up. You can tell he's holding inside lots of anguish and rage , but we won't learn till about 2/3rds of the way into the film what has happened to cause this.
Nilay Erdonmez is equally effective here as Seher, a young woman who has taken a job as a bus hostess and has secured a room at a remote bus terminal not far from Rihat's watchtower. We learn rather early on that she suddenly left Bolu University, where she was studying literature, and was living with her uncle while a student there.
However, Seher has her own anguish, as she's become impregnated by her uncle and is well along in her pregnancy. She suddenly gets labor pains and has to give birth in the basement of the bus terminal, in a scene that is very difficult to watch. She's so distraught and upset by the whole affair that she tries to abandon the baby boy by the roadside.
Nihat, who has been at the bus depot getting supplies and tea, sees what is happening and tries to help her, offering her temporary shelter at the watchtower. This is what I would call the heart of the movie, as these two troubled souls try and cope with their own harsh realities.
The viewer I felt here is offered distinct reality often with the cast so natural it's as if they're not even acting. Also, the cinematography is often quite startling and awesome.
Although this is definitely not a feel-good movie and can be difficult to watch, the main story is quite intriguing and powerful and it certainly maintained my interest as I wanted to know how it would conclude. I thought Turkish writer and director Esmer presented this drama well and I will be interested to see what her future films present.
Olgun Simsek gives a strong performance, as Rihat, a carpenter by trade, but who has chosen to take a new job, in virtual isolation at a mountainside watchtower. We learn eventually that he is a spotter there for the Forestry Service, to observe and report forest fires that may spring up. You can tell he's holding inside lots of anguish and rage , but we won't learn till about 2/3rds of the way into the film what has happened to cause this.
Nilay Erdonmez is equally effective here as Seher, a young woman who has taken a job as a bus hostess and has secured a room at a remote bus terminal not far from Rihat's watchtower. We learn rather early on that she suddenly left Bolu University, where she was studying literature, and was living with her uncle while a student there.
However, Seher has her own anguish, as she's become impregnated by her uncle and is well along in her pregnancy. She suddenly gets labor pains and has to give birth in the basement of the bus terminal, in a scene that is very difficult to watch. She's so distraught and upset by the whole affair that she tries to abandon the baby boy by the roadside.
Nihat, who has been at the bus depot getting supplies and tea, sees what is happening and tries to help her, offering her temporary shelter at the watchtower. This is what I would call the heart of the movie, as these two troubled souls try and cope with their own harsh realities.
The viewer I felt here is offered distinct reality often with the cast so natural it's as if they're not even acting. Also, the cinematography is often quite startling and awesome.
Although this is definitely not a feel-good movie and can be difficult to watch, the main story is quite intriguing and powerful and it certainly maintained my interest as I wanted to know how it would conclude. I thought Turkish writer and director Esmer presented this drama well and I will be interested to see what her future films present.