OK, this is a good film. Lots of people have already commented that this is a good film so I don't need to add to that, but I did have some problems with it.
The film is very Turkish, while that is not a bad thing I do think it appeal to audiences from other countries is limited. That nearly all the comments here about the film are from Turkish people shows that it appeals mainly to Turks.
The theme of the film is: blood is thicker than water. The moral of the story is: even if your father treats you like rubbish you should still respect and love him. The father/grandfather is unpleasant and self-centered. If my father was like this man I would never trust him with my son. But this is why Turks will understand this film better than some other people. This is not about being 'warm blooded' (as Turks like to believe they are), it is about being unable to survive without a family support system (even if that system is dysfunctional).
Towards the end of the film the old man seems to have a turn around of character; but we have to assume that this is only temporary, and that he will later go back to be a horrible old man, because it is noticeable that no one likes him. And they have good reason not to like him.
The film is not really political, it dodges the political issues. The military coup is only used as a melodramatic backdrop. If fact the film also dodges the issues about family, about why we treat people they way we do and instead uses sentimental melodrama to pull on our heart-strings.
I do not believe this can be the best film made in Turkey (as many people have written).
The film is very Turkish, while that is not a bad thing I do think it appeal to audiences from other countries is limited. That nearly all the comments here about the film are from Turkish people shows that it appeals mainly to Turks.
The theme of the film is: blood is thicker than water. The moral of the story is: even if your father treats you like rubbish you should still respect and love him. The father/grandfather is unpleasant and self-centered. If my father was like this man I would never trust him with my son. But this is why Turks will understand this film better than some other people. This is not about being 'warm blooded' (as Turks like to believe they are), it is about being unable to survive without a family support system (even if that system is dysfunctional).
Towards the end of the film the old man seems to have a turn around of character; but we have to assume that this is only temporary, and that he will later go back to be a horrible old man, because it is noticeable that no one likes him. And they have good reason not to like him.
The film is not really political, it dodges the political issues. The military coup is only used as a melodramatic backdrop. If fact the film also dodges the issues about family, about why we treat people they way we do and instead uses sentimental melodrama to pull on our heart-strings.
I do not believe this can be the best film made in Turkey (as many people have written).