Starting with nice yachts and cute girls, the movie comes really appealing during the beginning. After the yacht trip, the movie basically turns out to be a man in the middle of two women; the nice girl and the bad dangerous girl. A cliché topic that has been in so many romance movies in history. However flaws arise first in co-actors/actresses who seem quite fake and really bothering. Then comes up the "big talks" about life, fate... These talks are extremely superficial. Bad screenplay takes over right away after the yacht trip ends and real life begins in the city. You cannot really believe in it because all they do is talk; such as how crazy the girl is even when all she does it's to stay home and watch TV. Plus, so many clichés keep on being told during break-ups and make-ups, it makes you wonder whether it's a comedy. Especially, the conversations between couples are as if teenagers are talking although our guy is supposed to be a well educated man with masters degree from Columbia University and managing an international company. Still the movie keeps you interested until the end not because it was aimed, but because of so many "this cannot happen" events which make so many dramatic turning points changing the movies' direction every quarter hour. Keep an eye on Tuzunagac's performance though, one of her best during her career especially when she is not over-acting.
11 Reviews
Clichés, bad screenplay and bad acting but somehow interesting!
deblod16 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Not Good... But Can Not Say Bad... Interesting!!! Really interesting!
antony82-3-40214316 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This movie somehow tries to do something interesting. It starts like a romance however it turns out to be a romantic thriller and a criticism of bourgeoisie. To me, it is a brave step while Turkish romantic movies are so popular and it is really easier to get audiences' attention and a big piece from the box office cake these days. This movie is about a love triangle however the point is not that very story, but it underlines how men can not grow up under their mothers' shadows and how far mothers can go to protect their sons from dangerous women. This really makes the film different from the others but on the other hand serious problems in directing and editing and big flops in the storyline prevent it to be a successful attempt and unfortunately make you feel like you are watching a parody in some scenes. Still, because of this interesting nature of the film it makes you sit on that seat and watch till the end. To watch this film is really an interesting experience, and probably it will soon became a cult. One last thing about the actors: I think they really did what they were supposed to do. The script doesn't let you identify with any of the characters and probably because of the lack of directing they all play from different notes, but it is good to watch Tulek's warm performance as the best friend of the real guy and Aksel's cynical performance as the loving mother.
It's like watching the war between fascism and socialism on the faces of two women.
newyorkais24 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
It came up with a question confused us all. "Are you the sea or the port?" a question that we have to read between the lines to see what lies beneath. Are we the sea or a port? If we have to be one of them which one would we be? The movie stands as the very first and precious work of Leyla Yilmaz.
It's a story of a man, and two women; but before all else it's the story of the sea. We are no longer being questioned on being a sea or a port, now it's time to stay alive on that mighty floating sea. Who knows? Maybe to reach a port or another sea... Are we destined to keep living or are we prisoned in our own chosen "freedom"; both assumptions leads us to the same place; "what is freedom?" is one of those questions Leyla Yilmaz wants us to think about...
While we are being charmed by the power of bourgeoisie; we come up meeting a girl named Deniz. The first time we see this girl, she tells things that we should all stop and think of our purpose of existence. She says, she does not own a home, nor a car, and no route to follow in life; we begin to think that none of us are capable to own anything in life; the thing you expect to be the owner, owns you back. We limit our lives with such stuff that capitalism itself serves us to own. And what owns us back is "capitalism" itself. Idea reminds me Jean Baudrillard's "la society De consummation" and ideology of the movie "Fight Club" of course.
The word "freedom" begins to seem like a decorated Christmas tree that is sold just to "stare" in the words of Deniz. Deniz becomes the name of revolution inside this world of bourgeoisie. A rich man named Mert from a rich family falls in love with Deniz and maybe more with her opinions. But this relationship between this two different life-styled lovers comes up to be a conflict between Deniz and Mert's mother. The mother is like a "dictator" as her own son calls her too. She never likes the girl. It's like watching the war between fascism and socialism on the faces of those two women.
Socialism (Deniz) can no longer stands out against the very villainous games of fascism (The Mother) and collapses After the death of that "1" socialist, socialism begins to shine on the face of a rich man (Mert) at the end of the movie
The movie mostly reminded me Woody Allen's "Match Point" and sometimes Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "Faustrecht Der Freiheit". And in the closing credits we see the names Gilles Deluze and Yunus Emre; that is something notable too I guess.
It's a story of a man, and two women; but before all else it's the story of the sea. We are no longer being questioned on being a sea or a port, now it's time to stay alive on that mighty floating sea. Who knows? Maybe to reach a port or another sea... Are we destined to keep living or are we prisoned in our own chosen "freedom"; both assumptions leads us to the same place; "what is freedom?" is one of those questions Leyla Yilmaz wants us to think about...
While we are being charmed by the power of bourgeoisie; we come up meeting a girl named Deniz. The first time we see this girl, she tells things that we should all stop and think of our purpose of existence. She says, she does not own a home, nor a car, and no route to follow in life; we begin to think that none of us are capable to own anything in life; the thing you expect to be the owner, owns you back. We limit our lives with such stuff that capitalism itself serves us to own. And what owns us back is "capitalism" itself. Idea reminds me Jean Baudrillard's "la society De consummation" and ideology of the movie "Fight Club" of course.
The word "freedom" begins to seem like a decorated Christmas tree that is sold just to "stare" in the words of Deniz. Deniz becomes the name of revolution inside this world of bourgeoisie. A rich man named Mert from a rich family falls in love with Deniz and maybe more with her opinions. But this relationship between this two different life-styled lovers comes up to be a conflict between Deniz and Mert's mother. The mother is like a "dictator" as her own son calls her too. She never likes the girl. It's like watching the war between fascism and socialism on the faces of those two women.
Socialism (Deniz) can no longer stands out against the very villainous games of fascism (The Mother) and collapses After the death of that "1" socialist, socialism begins to shine on the face of a rich man (Mert) at the end of the movie
The movie mostly reminded me Woody Allen's "Match Point" and sometimes Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "Faustrecht Der Freiheit". And in the closing credits we see the names Gilles Deluze and Yunus Emre; that is something notable too I guess.
avoid at all costs
rickblaine3420 March 2011
This film is an insult to the moviegoer and to the art of cinema itself. It is so incredibly bad that it would drive one to open an IMDb account just to give this movie a low rating. If you think that this movie was actually a joke, and that it was made merely to make fun of dull and meaningless romantic movies that take themselves too seriously (which is a natural assumption to make after seeing it), I got horrible news for you, it is not. I have never seen such an epic failure in my life. Terrible acting, piece of crap scenario, meaningless dialogue, this movie represents everything that is wrong with the Turkish cinema today. It should be shown in film school under the title: 'How not to make a movie' or 'How to torture your audience and bore them to death'. As I stated at the title, avoid it at all costs. Well, let's not be so harsh, there is an upside to it. If you're looking for a good laugh, this will work even better than Peter Sellers movies. The audience laughed so much that it was hard to follow the conversations. Definitely the worst movie I have seen in my life, period. Anyone who actually liked this movie, certainly lacks any kind of taste in movies.
Shiny happy people,their prized possessions,our misguided perceptions..
alpkendirli31 March 2011
People love their possessions.Anyone to argue? Their pets,cars,children,social status,money and wealth.. In her brilliant debut director Leyla Yılmaz gently suggests that some people pathologically cling to their possessions to fill their emptiness inside and to add some depth to the shallow sea that they pretend to call a charming life! The director certainly deserves the credit for defining delicately,how far,even the wealthy,well educated,'sophisticated' and the 'respectable' members of the society will travel to protect their dear possessions on a route which transforms them to a violent common criminal that is most unexpected of their refined existence!Surprise.Surprise.
One of the most surprising film of the year!
esracengiz200522 March 2011
It was the first time i have ever seen such a tough criticism of bourgeoisie in Turkish Cinema. It reminds me Claude Chabrol's movies.This film tries to lifts the veil from a group of people who are beautiful, distinguished, elegant and it makes us to see what they really hide under that veil. I think the first episode is very slow it is one of the most important problem of the film . Ayda Aksel, Engin Altan Duzyatan, Berrak Tuzunatac are fantastic in the movie. Especially Berrak Tuzunatac's performance is surprising to me. Also Zeynep Ozder, Tugrul Tulek are great! I think it is really brave trying for a first movie.
slick and courageous
tu_vates_eris25 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
In the age of the so-called coming back of the Turkish cinema when several auteurs" tend to rely on recycling the (fabricated) mystique" of the countryside or on heartrending, overdone tales of misery, Leyla Yılmaz proved that she had the guts to direct her lens into the wanton lives of the creme-de-la-creme and to sculpture out a caustic story.
This is no regurgitating of any new art-house" formula. Bir Avuc Deniz" does not only question the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie" but also the the-name-of-the-mother which seems to lurk behind the shadows of every Mediterranean" (read: Eastern) culture. She dares to explore the collective psyche that plagues us with hordes of immature, childish, incapable men and the grotesquerie that is at the heart of their frantic pursuit of happiness.
Such an attempt is worth a thousand stories of rustic romanticism and the film's subversive courage can send us back to reread what we think we already knew.
This is no regurgitating of any new art-house" formula. Bir Avuc Deniz" does not only question the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie" but also the the-name-of-the-mother which seems to lurk behind the shadows of every Mediterranean" (read: Eastern) culture. She dares to explore the collective psyche that plagues us with hordes of immature, childish, incapable men and the grotesquerie that is at the heart of their frantic pursuit of happiness.
Such an attempt is worth a thousand stories of rustic romanticism and the film's subversive courage can send us back to reread what we think we already knew.
Perfect First Movie
matesmate7721 March 2011
It was a great shock for me. Director plays our prejudices perfectly. It's like a peaceful, modest song. You can't love any character. Mert is a kind of modern times anti-hero. He is lying every single time and every people around him even yourself. It is very brave movie to talk about love between mother and son. Especially "the mother" is became to symbol of capitalism and holly property. Actually explaining is not easy like all difficult scripts. And also, it is a funny experience to understand "secret charm of Turkish Bourgeoise's" After three days I still thinking some dialogs very ironic behaviors... And I think it's big success for a first movie.
well designed story, hard facts to accept
umutgecal25 March 2011
One of the best designed scenarios in Turkey written in last few years! Was hard to swallow for specific segments, and the criticism was tough to accept. However, story was so shiny for some superficial eyes, they were dazzled and couldn't see the real message. At the end, it was a film made to criticize the people who was afraid of the facts that against the status quo, things they didn't have courage to do. And, as an irony; its message determined the movie's fate: It made the "denied and cursed facts" list on the first page! İ think the problem was about the perception. There is a common opinion like popular movies don't have a message, and artistic movies don't care about box office. The dilemma of Bir Avuç Deniz was having both features; magnificent visuality and powerful story, made it impossible to be categorized in a specific group.
Good movie, unexpected
ezoguven21 January 2012
This is a good movie and kind of unexpected I must say. There are not a lot of Turkish movies that I find interesting (except for Head On, Love Bitter, etc.) This is one of those movies that makes you question certain things in our modern existence. I highly recommend it, it also ends interestingly. Enjoy. The movie further takes place in Istanbul and in parts of Aegean Sea, so enjoy the different geographies of Turkey. Turkey is one of these fascinating countries with several different cultures coexisting together. This movie reflects the life of the "elite" Turkish, but not being too cheesy. The elite Turkish truly has different set of values and rules reflecting a relict early 20th c. French culture (which was the major influence).
a gem
gokhan32513 January 2024
An incredible movie presents deep understanding of human psyche and behaviours artfully. Director Leyla Yilmaz is an incredible talent , hoping we will hear more from her. A beautiful masterpiece considering it is the first movie of the director. We can feel her subtlety at every camera angle, dialogue and scene. Human interactions reflected great with surprisingly good acting performances. Writing is also impressive. I especially liked the natural flow of conversations. Characters are genuine and real with multidimensional psychological and behavioral aspects. Story develops gradually and very strong. Great movie overall.
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