Vavien (2009) User Reviews

Dark comedy that makes you chuckle in malicious delight!

[MdlndeHond · 8/10 · 12 May 2010]

I'm not getting into artsy fartsy cinematic details since sometimes a movie is an entertainment watch. And this one is indeed your money's worth of very entertaining dark comedy from Turkey. It might start a little slow but that is the only criticism here and i only mention it so you know it's going to get better quickly.

All together the subtle humour and the sinister plot are very well balanced. The characters are so delightful in their naivety or down right evilness. It all has the classic elements of a solid dark satire: clean-cut characters, secrets that bite them in the ass and surprising plot twists that make you snicker and chuckle in malicious delight.

Could Have Been A Hit

[mustican · 7/10 · 19 December 2009]

Celal is an unhappy man, living with his wife and son. He lives in a small town, running an electrician shop with his brother. He is not in love with his wife and he is very critical of his son. On the other hand, he is in love with a singer but his love is only one way. His job is not going well and he is really low in cash and needs a lot of money to pay his debts. His wife Sevilay is also an unhappy woman and her only happy times are when Celal shows her a bit of love. She is so desperate to gain Celal's attention and love. However, financially she is well-off as her father in Germany sends her cash every month and she saves her money in the basement without Celal's awareness(that's what she thinks of course).

Before the film released, my expectations was sky high due to the fact that the movie has a great cast. To be quite honest, cast delivers a perfect job from a to z. All actors fit into their roles and does not look ridiculous. Maybe only problem would be that their faces are so familiar as they became famous with TV shows. You see Burhan Altintop sometimes for example.

Screenplay is quite good as well but I believe that it could have been perfect to play on Sevilay a bit more and make her scary more rather than desperate especially when she returns. That would have made the film a big hit at least for me and I believe most people thinks the same. People wanted to see Sevilay take her revenge on Celal after what he did to her. This would have been big fun to see.

Overall, the film is good, as far as I remember there is no other examples in Turkish cinema as subject matter. As the title says it could have been a great hit but with what it is still worth watching.

a great story

[Braveheart67 · 7/10 · 30 March 2020]

Very nice movie. Engin Gunaydin wrote great and played great. I especially liked the brother and brother scenes. Main character doesn't know the value of his life at the films beginning. The story gives him a nice lesson. And He is changing.

Nice wee dark humor

[infestorOfSouls · 5 July 2010]

Vavien is one of the rare (if not the only) dark humor experiences in Turkish cinema. The movie delivers evil in a naive way, just as might be expected from a life in a small town. Surely, the films strongly stands on its excellent cast. However there are some problems with the script. At least, at some point it becomes unclear that what kind of realism the directors wanted to deliver to the viewers (the scene where Sevilay kicks off the door and enters in a very caricature way). Cinematography is nice but the same does not go for the audio. I also think that the soundtrack is not on the strong side neither here.

All in all, this is a satisfactory dark humor flick...this is, of course, if you like the genre.

Another Milestone in Turkish Cinema

[grapesofbutcher · 9/10 · 23 April 2010]

Taylan Brothers' career, beginning with commercials and TV series, had already found its stylistic maturity even in their second film Küçük Kıyamet. However, this time, we encounter some other elements, a well-written screenplay, superb acting and a perfect provincial setting are woven together masterfully.

Vavien also remarks the beginning of a new age for Turkish Cinema. Its revival in mid 90s has proved itself in an artistic level and has been internationally acclaimed in the naughties. Vavien's virtue is combining this maturity with the expectations of the audience.

On the other hand, there are some comments about the Coenesque style of the movie. I think those elements mentioned are not enough to talk for an imitation or a pastiche. The idea of getting rid of a wife or a money bag does not solely make a movie Coenesque.

What a beautiful story telling!

[lilaqueen · 9/10 · 1 December 2010]

I was one of the best films I've watched in a long time. A story of a family living in a small town struggling against the daily life like in classical melodrama. But this one takes the issue in a satiric way and takes a big step into black humor, even into film noir. While doing it never leaves the control of the movie or lose the center. A movie in harmony with all elements; from plot to actors, from cinematography to directing. It was a very pleasant experience for me, I really enjoyed it. A very satisfying movie coming from contemporary Turkish cinema which needs more films like this. In fact every cinema needs films like this.

Very Good

[jack_o_hasanov_imdb · 7/10 · 17 August 2021]

One of the best Turkish movies in my opinion. The script is good, the acting is good, the director is good.

Unique

[suzgun-81426 · 10/10 · 1 February 2019]

I think this movie is the only succesfull dark-comedy of the Turkish cinema.Script is great,actors and actresses performances are great and especially its realistic.

An electrician's sick and dirty story. A bitter plan and a non-regretful man and his shameless behavior.

[karyaozmen · 6/10 · 13 July 2011]

The bitter facing of the good and the bad.The story is told in a different way. Normally the story line starts with introduction followed by development and then the conclusion. but in this movie this is a little bit different and this makes the movie unique. In this movie the order is like this: introduction, conclusion, development. A short introduction, a ferocious conclusion and a long development. It does not bore or let the viewer down. On the contrary it makes you open your eyes widely and watch it without blinking. The actress Binnur Kaya who appears as the electrician Celal's wife Sevilay performs wonderful scenes. Also Engin Gunaydin shows us how it is to be a bad person without regretting. A breathtaking black humor. And the family with an absolutely diabolical father, with an angel mother and their teenager son who got stuck in between.