The modern-day Romeo & Juilet love story the short movie portrays is interesting without being cheesy. The cinematography is excellent--one truly feels like he or she is with the characters in the beautiful woods and villages. The background music was also very nice--not too loud, timely, and culture-appropriate. The actors were professional and were able to realistically portray their prospective roles. My only very small complaint is that I hope future productions don't play on stereotypes as much. But all in all, a wonderful (and to-the-point) story that gives insight into the lives of the rural Turkish population. The short film also gave audiences a sneak peek into the beauty of the Turkish wildlife and scenery. Well done!
5 Reviews
Love story worth the watch!
hkoc228 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
One of the rare short films that I have actually wanted to have extended to full-length, "What is Love Doing in the Mountains" is a Romeo & Juliet style love story placed in a far-away and isolated town in rural Turkey. The characters are well-developed and the main character, a young Turk searching for a way to marry the love of his life, is endearing. Cinematography and images of the town are beautiful and really give one a sense of the area and mesmerizing nature. Although the tempo of the movie is slow, the story is engaging and the ending is actually a little surprising. I am looking forward to more from new director Yunus Emra Firat!
A foreign film that speaks in the international language of love
colinsheehy7 February 2006
I am impressed by the movie, it took my expectations higher than I had thought possible. The beautiful images in the village, and also in the mountains, left little to be desired for me. At the same time, however, Ne gezer ask daglarda will be a movie that I can appreciate forever. Its message of love and its emotionally charged storyline can bring happiness. I am thankful that I have found this film and hopefully can see more from Yunus Firat in the coming years. Great movie!
The sound and cinematography are pristine and instill feelings of awe and excitement.
This film has been successful in many ways, of which I feel have taken a sufficient amount of effort to achieve an aura of excellency.
The sound and cinematography are pristine and instill feelings of awe and excitement.
This film has been successful in many ways, of which I feel have taken a sufficient amount of effort to achieve an aura of excellency.
Great film.
nicho1097 February 2006
I have never been to Turkey before, but after watching this film at the DGA I felt like I was given a little piece of a distant land to take home with me. From wide scenic landscapes to expressive interiors, director Yunus Firat proves that he is ready to tackle a longer form project. Whereas most short films tend to stay in closeups, this filmmaker is not afraid to experiment with wider angles that have the terrain envelop the characters. Closeups are only used when needed, or to accentuate certain story aspects, which makes the film more powerful overall. Great use of motifs and drama, and subtle use of comedy combine to make this a great short film.
A successful film that will no doubt stand the test of time
BostonAwards27 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
An underachieving man; an unattainable woman; a disapproving father; a mysterious visitor. Love; betrayal; risk; deception; gain; loss. Do these sound familiar? Of course they do. They're classic elements that have shown up in thousands of stories from cultures across the globe. What, then, does another story based on these elements have to offer us? Another chance for connection. Classic stories are classic for a reason: they resonate truth, and they teach us lessons about ourselves and the world around us. These stories, however, resonate not just because of the concepts upon which they're based, but because of their authors' attention to detail.
The short film WHAT'S LOVE DOING IN THE MOUNTAINS? is based on a traditional Turkish story, which student filmmaker Yunus Emre Firat brings to life with the skill of a seasoned writer/director. The well-crafted cinematography and art design highlight the beauty of a small Turkish villageits inhabitants, architecture, and landscapealmost tricking us into believing that the story of Hasan (Baruk Sarimola) and Ayse (Ezgi Asroglu) could only take place there. What makes the story a classic, though, is the fact that it could take place anywhere. Anywhere on earth, an underachieving man could have a chance to prove his worth to someone he loves; anywhere on earth, a woman could be forced to choose between tradition and passion.
The characters in this film are familiar to us; they're people we see in ourselves, our friends, and our families. In order for the film to work, though, the characters must also be unique. While Hasan is an archetypal character, he must also be a real man with real hopes and fears of his own. One of Mr. Firat's greatest achievements in the making of this picture comes in adeptly folding both of these necessary facets into each of his characters, from Hasan to the squabbling couple at the fork in the road.
Needless to say, Mr. Firat has made a successful film, and because of both the classic subject matter and the filmmaker's craftsmanship, WHAT'S LOVE DOING IN THE MOUNTAINS? will no doubt stand the test of time.
-- Aaron & Seth Howland (Boston Motion Picture Awards)
The short film WHAT'S LOVE DOING IN THE MOUNTAINS? is based on a traditional Turkish story, which student filmmaker Yunus Emre Firat brings to life with the skill of a seasoned writer/director. The well-crafted cinematography and art design highlight the beauty of a small Turkish villageits inhabitants, architecture, and landscapealmost tricking us into believing that the story of Hasan (Baruk Sarimola) and Ayse (Ezgi Asroglu) could only take place there. What makes the story a classic, though, is the fact that it could take place anywhere. Anywhere on earth, an underachieving man could have a chance to prove his worth to someone he loves; anywhere on earth, a woman could be forced to choose between tradition and passion.
The characters in this film are familiar to us; they're people we see in ourselves, our friends, and our families. In order for the film to work, though, the characters must also be unique. While Hasan is an archetypal character, he must also be a real man with real hopes and fears of his own. One of Mr. Firat's greatest achievements in the making of this picture comes in adeptly folding both of these necessary facets into each of his characters, from Hasan to the squabbling couple at the fork in the road.
Needless to say, Mr. Firat has made a successful film, and because of both the classic subject matter and the filmmaker's craftsmanship, WHAT'S LOVE DOING IN THE MOUNTAINS? will no doubt stand the test of time.
-- Aaron & Seth Howland (Boston Motion Picture Awards)
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