Beautifully shot, somber, slow moving and quiet, this is a character study of a late middle- aged railway worker alone and alienated from the world. His wife is dead, and his son - a political activist - disappeared 18 years ago, leaving a gaping hole of mystery in Basri's life. (Ercan Kesal is great in the lead, managing to make this disconnected, angry, sad shell of a man sympathetic and touching).
Basri keeps writing to the authorities about his son, but never gets any answers, it just makes them suspicious of Basri himself (and annoyed at his persistence) turning him into the target of constant low level harassment and questioning. Basri also lives apart from his fellow workers, and when he comes upon a particularly creepy work compatriot raping a woman, a strong (if understated) enmity is born between the two men.
Not much happens in terms of plot and event, This is definitely a mood piece first and foremost. But I found myself always drawn in, always involved. It works on both the head and the heart, and tells a tale both the personal and political. A subtle film of power.
Basri keeps writing to the authorities about his son, but never gets any answers, it just makes them suspicious of Basri himself (and annoyed at his persistence) turning him into the target of constant low level harassment and questioning. Basri also lives apart from his fellow workers, and when he comes upon a particularly creepy work compatriot raping a woman, a strong (if understated) enmity is born between the two men.
Not much happens in terms of plot and event, This is definitely a mood piece first and foremost. But I found myself always drawn in, always involved. It works on both the head and the heart, and tells a tale both the personal and political. A subtle film of power.