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12 out of 15 people found the following review useful: A true cultural drama, 10 October 2008 Author: gypsy-73 from United States
I just finished watching this film, and I'm absolutely touched.... The message is clear and very effective....I loved everything about it... Cultural diversity, horrible truth about senior homes, conflict between good and evil... I'm more impressed by Mahsun Kirmizigul who wrote and directed it than any experienced director... The cast is amazing...Acting is very powerful... They make you feel the characters...It's become one of my favorites... When you watch it, I suggest, you should bring some tissues... Oh, and enjoy the beautiful Turkish music in certain scenes....
24 out of 40 people found the following review useful: astonishing movie from an inexperienced director, 14 December 2007 Author: bulent kalay from Turkey
Beyaz Melek really astonished me with strong story, skillful actors and actresses and most of all inexperienced director Mahsun Kirmizigül. If we take into consideration that both the story and directing made by him, then I should congratulate him beyond extra.The film is based on the sad happenings in the retirement home. We see the old people were beaten, were said bad words, were forgotten by their families. A social problem was reflected well with Beyaz Melek.In story we can also see the destruction of the big earthquake, fantastic view of salt lake, living traditions of eastern sides of Turkey, patriotic angles related with military, friendship, solidarity, difficulties of city life like economic problem.Yildiz Kenter as the leader, Cezmi Baskin, Erol Günaydin, Toron Karacaoglu, Gazanfer Özcan, Nejat Uygur, shortly there were too many values played in the movie. I like the parts in east of Turkey views and traditions which I am not familiar much.I hope this movie will be helpful for correcting social problem in all retirement houses. Watching a successful movie and see its correcting affects will be multiple factor which is required from art and culture.
23 out of 39 people found the following review useful: I don't believe i watched this., 26 December 2007 Author: irmakmor from Turkey
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Today i watched this movie with two of my friends. It was an awful experience. I felt very sorry for Turkish cinema industry. Mahsun Kirmizigul said they spent 3 million dollars for this movie.Movie was full of problems. Firstly, characters were one dimensioned. You cannot feel related to them. They do not seem like real life characters. Just a bunch of old folks who memorized their parts. Secondly dialogs were awful and meaningless. Director tried to give messages as if the person who is going to watch is an idiot. Thirdly, and most importantly movie has no pilot. No story is told. Because of this it looks like a compilation of sketches. Total waste of time.
13 out of 22 people found the following review useful: Touching and well done, 12 February 2008 Author: (moodz23-1) from Australia
Fantastic movie. Mahsun has done a great job in bringing a very touching story to the cinema. The delusional turd that commented that the movie is pure propaganda needs to get the poll that wedged up his rear end removed asap.I did not know anything about the movie when i went in to watch it, however within 20 minutes found myself pleased with the decision to go see it. The performances were great and true to the culture of traditional Turkey, wonderful. The slow and question start to the movie is long forgotten by the time the end credits begin. Once again, fantastic movie, job very well done.I highly recommend.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: not bad, watching it wouldn't be the end of the world (for those who are not watching it because of the director), 9 February 2009 Author: TigerMoods (aksoy.erdem@gmail.com) from Budapest, Hungary
first of all i would like to say that the casting was great, you can see many good old actors in the movie and they are the reason why this movie is such successful...the story is also interesting, pointless stuff happen like Yıldız Kenter's death on Salt Lake after she cries to the angel that she wants to die when everywhere is white... i can understand that the director wants to show the scenery but it is still pointless...i also have doubts about the director of the movie, he is an uneducated person who can barely speak and i do not believe he can direct this movie... he may tell the story in his head and someone else directs the movie, that's the only way this movie could be done, he is just paying for the costs and signing as the director since he is not appreciated much in the music industry anymore and he needs a new career, a more sophisticated one to cover his ignorance.i liked the direction of photography and the scenery, the story is not bad, too much drama tried to be put together in a short time but it is not really disturbing... i voted 7 out of 10 which is quite fair in my opinion (i don't rate any movie below 5 if it is not a complete disaster)...
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A huge waste of time, 22 March 2009 Author: ayhgul-12
First of all, I need to say that this movie was a total disappointment and a great waste of time for me. I do understand that Mahsun Kırmızıgül is trying to give an ethical and moral message, but he does it in such a way, the movie becomes a comedy instead of a tragedy. All of the characters are single-dimensional, they're only created to get across a certain message to the audience.There is no ambiguity in any of the characters; they're either totally "good" or totally "bad and evil". There is nothing much of originality in the plot, too. It is predictable and boring. You watch the old people die one by one, with a great deal of drama in each death. After some point, the movie becomes kind of a "guess who'll die next" game. So my recommendation is don't waste your time by watching this movie, there are far better movies which are worth of watching.
6 out of 12 people found the following review useful: A Very Good Drama, 2 March 2008 Author: Tansu from Melbourne, Australia
Firstly I would like to admit, I entered the theatre to watch this movie with only one thing on my mind; "this is a Mahsun Kirmizigul movie so expect nothing too good". But the reality couldn't be any further from my expectations.For those non-Turks a bit of history about the writer/director/producer Mahsun Kirmizigul; he is a famous singer in the genre known as Arabesk/Fantasy. His attempts at acting to date having proved (for the lack of better words) bad. This movie was, in away, his statement that he has the talent it takes to succeed on the big screen and I'd argue he has.The movie is about the changing culture in Turkey with the adaptation of the Western civilisation into the metropolitan cities. It depicts the great harmony that exists between all cultures within the Turkish Republic and to name them specifically, Turkic, Kurdish and Greek. The main concentration is on the family values that are common to all Anatolians and that have inevitably shifted with the western way of life overpowering those cultural values that once were.The story revolves around an elderly home where people from all walks of life cross paths as they wait for their eventual end (death). The joy and cruelty that exists within the walls of this sanctuary are based on true events that made headlines in Turkey when caught on camera by a national current affairs program in the 90s.There are some remarkable camera and directing work, especially coming from someone as unexpected as Mahsun Kirmizigul. The introduction scene and horse scenes are ones to really enjoy from a technical point of view, and the actors in general make the drama hit you where it hurts and your tears will be the evidence of the wonderful acting.
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