drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed by
Selim Demirdelen
Salim, Saleem or Selim may refer to:
People
*Salim (name), or Saleem or Salem or Selim, a name of Arabic origin
** Salim (poet) (1800–1866), Kurdish poet
**Saleem (playwright), Palestinian-American gay Muslim playwright, actor, DJ, and dancer
...
, which is about a devoted family man who comes home from work one day to find his house deserted. The film went on general release across Turkey on and was selected for several festivals, including the
47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival
The 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival () was a film festival held in Antalya, Turkey which ran from October 9 to 14, 2010. Prizes were awarded in four competitions in the course of the festival, at which 191 films were shown ...
Güven works at an accounting firm and leads an ordinary life. He is happily married and has a daughter that he loves more than anything. He boasts endlessly to his colleagues about his daughter's achievements. His daughter is equally devoted to him, calling him every day when she gets home from school.
After an ordinary day at work, Güven leaves his office, takes the bus. He walks on his empty street, comes home to his three-storey apartment building. He enters his apartment, changes his clothes, washes his face, and sits down on the sofa in the living room. The living room is empty. The house is empty.
Festival do Rio
The Festival do Rio is an international film festival in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populou ...
(September 23-October 7, 2010)
* 10th Beirut International Film Festival (October 6–13)
*
47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival
The 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival () was a film festival held in Antalya, Turkey which ran from October 9 to 14, 2010. Prizes were awarded in four competitions in the course of the festival, at which 191 films were shown ...
(October 9–14, 2010)
*33rd Starz
Denver Film Festival
The Denver Film Festival is held in November, primarily at the Denver Film Center/Colfax, in Denver, Colorado, now the Anna and John J. Sie FilmCenter (Sie FilmCenter). Premiere events are held in the Buell Theatre and Ellie Caulkins Opera House ...
Hürriyet Daily News
The ''Hürriyet Daily News'', formerly ''Hürriyet Daily News and Economic Review'' and ''Turkish Daily News'', is the oldest current English-language daily in Turkey, founded in 1961. The paper was bought by the Doğan Media Group in 2001 and ...
'' reviewer Emrah Güler describes the film as, "a beautifully crafted story of a wounded soul and how the intersection of stories from his life with those of others lead to haunting revelation and redemption", and which, according to ''
Today's Zaman
''Today's Zaman'' (Zaman is Turkish for 'time' or 'age') was an English-language daily newspaper based in Turkey. Established on 17 January 2007, it was the English-language edition of the Turkish daily '' Zaman.'' ''Today's Zaman'' included dom ...
'' reviewer Emine Yıldırım, "continues the prevalent notion in Turkish cinema in dealing with raw, dark and sullen emotions". "The story takes place in İstanbul", which according to Yıldırım, is, "shown here in its gray winter colors and atmosphere", but, "We are never really shown exterior images of the city except for the intermittent shots of highway traffic, for this is more of an interior film", where most of the action takes place in, what Güler describes as, "an office out of Franz Kafka's imagination".
"The film features stories of a handful of characters that at some point intersect with one another", which, "At first glance", according to Güler, "might give you the impression that it is a film in which the lives of the multiple characters intersect to a greater effect, exemplified by the recent films of Mexican director
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Alejandro González Iñárritu (born 15 August 1963) is a Mexican filmmaker primarily known for making modern psychological drama (film genre), psychological drama films about the human condition. His most notable films include ''Amores perros ...
Babel
Babel is a name used in the Hebrew Bible for the city of Babylon and may refer to:
Arts and media Written works Books
*Babel (book), ''Babel'' (book), by Patti Smith
* Babel (2012 manga), ''Babel'' (2012 manga), by Narumi Shigematsu
* Babel (20 ...
'') or some of the
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman ( ; February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director, screenwriter, and film producer, producer. He is considered an enduring figure from the New Hollywood era, known for directing subversive and sat ...
classics, like ''
Short Cuts
''Short Cuts'' is a 1993 American comedy-drama film, directed by Robert Altman. Filmed from a screenplay by Altman and Frank Barhydt, it is inspired by nine short stories and a poem by Raymond Carver. The film is set in Los Angeles, in contr ...
''", but "When boundaries are threatened, however, ''Kavşak'' is more the story of a lonely man who has put his life on hold indefinitely", and according to Yıldırım it is "lead actor, Güven Kıraç, steals the limelight". "The characters and their stories", according to Güler "are craftily developed, and soon the audience cares about each character and their story", "and there is no scene that doesn't serve the beautiful finale". But while Yıldırım commends the director for, "taking his time in this tight script", he admits some reservations, "about the secondary characters", which despite being, "used as a tool to explore the depths of vulnerability and human connection in the shadow of destitution", "are questionable", and, "not wholly convincing". Yıldırım concludes, "the main story is the full-on driving force of this drama supported with intense performances by the lead actors (Kıraç proves once again what a diverse and compassionate actor he is) and a cinematic language that supports the genuineness of the characters’ motivation and behavior."
"Demirdelen, who comes from a background in advertising, knows how to tell a story and how to tell it to maximum effect", states Yıldırım thanks the director, "for reminding us that emotional complexity can be shown through action and reaction, rather than through cerebral thawing", and commends that "he doesn't allow his characters to wallow in self pity and stare into the void more than they need to". "Instead of revealing a big twist at the end", which according to Güler, "is very much predicted from the beginning of the movie", Demirdelen, "seems to be more interested in how the obvious mystery will unravel throughout the movie, and how it will have an impact on Güven's life and his psyche. So when Güven tells of what happened in a teary monologue toward the end, the scene seems long and at best unnecessary, damaging the slowly built character development." "Here's hoping that it doesn't take that long for Demirdelen to begin shooting his next feature", Güler concludes, noting that, "There has been quite some time since his segment in 2005's ''Anlat Istanbul'' (
Istanbul Tales
''Istanbul Tales'' () is a 2005 Turkish drama-anthology film, directed by Selim Demirdelen, Kudret Sabancı, Ümit Ünal, Yücel Yolcu and Ömür Atay, which tells five interconnected stories set in modern-day Istanbul based on the fairytales ''S ...
)."
Awards
*
17th International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival
The International 17th Adana Golden Boll Film Festival was a film festival held in Adana, Turkey which ran from September 20 to 26, 2010. Prizes totalling 575,000 Turkish Liras were awarded in three categories and more than 200 films were shown at ...
**Best Director:
Selim Demirdelen
Salim, Saleem or Selim may refer to:
People
*Salim (name), or Saleem or Salem or Selim, a name of Arabic origin
** Salim (poet) (1800–1866), Kurdish poet
**Saleem (playwright), Palestinian-American gay Muslim playwright, actor, DJ, and dancer
...
(shared with
Levent Semerci
Levent is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Beşiktaş, Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its population is 2,911 (2022). It is one of the main business districts of Istanbul located on the European side of the city. It is situated ...
for "
Breath
Breathing (spiration or ventilation) is the neuroscience of rhythm, rhythmical process of moving air into (inhalation) and out of (exhalation) the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the Milieu intérieur, internal environment, mostly to flu ...
")
**Best Actress:
Sezin Akbaşoğulları
Sezin Akbaşoğulları (born 22 April 1981) is a Turkish actress.
She gained her first acting experience by joining her high school theatre team and was cast in the play ''Yine Başladılar Şarkılarına''. She later graduated from Bilkent Univ ...
(shared with
Nergis Öztürk
Nergis Öztürk (born 25 May 1980) is a Turkish actress. She has appeared in more than twelve films since 2006. She had leading role in Böyle Bitmesin. She played in hit period series "Hatırla Sevgili".
Filmography
References
External l ...
for "
Envy
Envy is an emotion which occurs when a person lacks another's quality, skill, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it. Envy can also refer to the wish for another person to lack something one already ...
")
**Most Promising Newcomer (actor):
Umut Kurt
Umut is a Turkish gender neutral given name meaning ''hope''.
Etymology
Umut comes from the Turkish word umut or ummak, which both derive from the Proto-Turkic ''*um-'', meaning "hope". It is cognate with the Karakhanid ''um-'' "to ask fo ...
(won)
**Best Music: Selim Demirden
See also
*
2010 in film
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science t ...
*
Turkish films of 2010
A list of films produced by the Turkish film industry in Turkey in 2010.
Highest-grossing films
Events
;January
:30 — ''New Turkish Cinema'' by Asuman Suner published.
;February
:16 — ''Honey'' () directed by Semih Kaplanoğlu premiered ...