Reviews

This is a series that can compete with European series like Borgen. The acting of Haluk Bilginer is amazing. Also Recep Usta did a very good work as well besides Sebnem Bozoklu, Ibrahim Selim, and Firat Topkorur. I only could not get a lot into the story of Nevra, Ates, and Tolga (I did not like the acting but they also were not bad but I just could not internalize them). But I understand those type of stories make the series sell to different audience also. The names of characters all mean something, they are not given randomly. This makes the story more epic. They show Agah representing conscious, somewhat snob, wise Istanbul gentlemen as one generation. They show Nevra, Firuz, Sebnem, Vural, Sefa as confused, somewhat lazy to fight for life and good, irresponsible (always accusing something on problems in life) as another generation (people in their 30s May think and can understand, maybe this is another thing that comes with age and this generation as late puberty). And there is the new generation with Deva, Suveyda and the girl at the park which has a totally different look into life, somewhat senseless, with loss for fear and pity coming with loss of respect to people ( as oldies say), values, culture. So I found this series recommendable to anyone who likes thinking but not only after reset of their mind and spend only time. Unfortunately this is why such stories do not sell in TV but cheap and shallow series sell. I also congratulate Onur Saylak as a director unfortunately I could not stand any of the series he acted in (not because of his acting but the shallowness I mentioned in the series). I hope he does that kind of job again.

When I was watching the movie, I had a lot of thoughts, critics, and feelings. I thought the part on the religious advises and the speech parts that the master of Adem (Cibali Kemal) was quite long. But this can be due to my interests, my perspective, some may find them all on right dosage. So this is a subjective opinion. I loved acting of Adem, Hasan, mother and father of Adem, Imam (Macit Koper) also other children. I remembered my childhood and the horrors, concerns I had due to being naive and lacking knowledge. For Cem Yılmaz's acting, unfortunately Cem Yılmaz has the disadvantage of being famous as a comedian and I could not feel the sincerity of his role a lot. Still he caught some details well, reflected the physical condition of the role very good (this is also the success of the director). When he spoke, I felt like a childish speak rather than an Aegean accent (the other actors had this accent really good). But his body acting was very good. Overall, I liked the movie, I felt the sincerity, good will, and hard work (on both the plot and the film making). The animated parts were also good. After the movie I have the urge to investigate more about some parts, ask more on those times to my parents (who are Aegean descents). I can watch this movie many times, try to catch some of the sayings, conversations. Thanks to everyone who had this hard work and dedication, we need such good movies in Turkey.

The movie is very natural and very touching. This is a lesson for everyone to see the real life not fantasy and not worthless, meaningless beliefs. It objectively shows the language problem in east side, how teachers try to do their job in very tough conditions, how children survive in touch village life. I felt like I was at school watching the moves of people. I once had been in east side of Turkey and this is the real life there. The lead role is the teacher Emre Aydin and he is very good. He also represents a man from west village side of Turkey, Denizli. I did not get bored even a minute, highly recommend you to watch it.