Godspeed (2022) User Reviews

The long shadows of combat-induced PTSD

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 25 May 2022]

As "Godspeed" (2022 release from Turkey; 119 min.) opens, we are introduced to Salih, and ex-army captain who lost his left leg in combat. Salih and Karim, who served under him as a lieutenant, are about to hit the road, "to crash a wedding", per Salih. Whose wedding? And why travel 700 km in an old (1974) Mercedes which Salih has faithfully restored to its former glory? At this point we are 10 min into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from veteran Turkish director Mehmet Ada Oztekin. Here he looks at the long shadows of combat-induced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and how it affects not just one guy (Salih), but indeed everyone around him. The movie is structured as a road movie, as Salih and Karim drive to the wedding and along the way run into unexpected challenges and situations, but it is in the flashbacks that we find out what exactly happened in Salih in combat and later as he is in the hospital. Even though these events unfold in Turkey, the themes explored in this film are universal and timeless, as indeed the characters are easily relatable for us American viewers. This film is not for anyone in a hurry, but you will be rewarded plenty for it.

"Godspeed" premiered on Netflix earlier this week. If you are in the mood for a foreign road movie with a lot of underlying emotional drama and as portrayed by well developed characters, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

Mehmet Ada Oztekin

[yusufpiskin · 7/10 · 27 May 2022]

The film, adapted from Hakan Evrensel's novel of the same name, produced by Lanistar Media and Same Film, directed by Mehmet Ada Öztekin, starring Engin Akyürek and Tolga Saritas, was released on Netflix on May 23, 2022.

Mehmet ada oztekin definitely understood this job...

Öztekin is always in the director's chair whenever there is a work on netflix that can be watched lately.

The movie is technically very good.

4k dolby vision image and 5.1.2 channel dolby atmos sound reinforce the story of the movie.

I felt those explosions and gunshots in my heart...

Is ok. Nothing special in this movie

[manugw · 6/10 · 2 July 2022]

Though the script was correct, engagingand ingenious, I could not glean much the emotional features the producers of this movie intended to convey along the way. Maybe it is about Turkish performers akin to my latin culture as viewer. Gray like my review.

Twists and Turns Along the Road

[gabadonia · 10/10 · 23 May 2022]

The original name of this movie is "Yolun Acik Olsun", which literally translates to "May Your Road be Open" in English. The prayer itself might be manifested throughout the movie in that the road might be constantly open, but oh boy are there some sharp turns that makes you wish for a full stop... Always make sure your prayers are fully-inclusive lmao

I presume the Turkish cinema was waiting for the economy to collapse to sublime in producing top-of-the-class movies such as this. I'm not going to give any information regarding what happens in the movie, just go ahead and dive.

Good luck in coping with the after-effects of this movie; a cold shower usually works.

A masterful Piece...A must watch movie!

[faryalruttee · 24 May 2022]

It's a movie that stirs you till the end with truth and traumas.

The movie illustrates another dimension of Engin's skills and acting power. Tolga also came through and reveals to be a perfect companion. What a brilliant combination!

A masterful piece... Engin Akyürek is awesome in his new character and such in control of his role. He never ceases to amaze us with his supreme and brilliant acting.

A story that values friendship, relationship and respect for everything on earth and from which many lessons can be learned.

You can't help admiring Engin Akyürek and the movie over and over again....though makes you cry each time.

My standing ovation to EnginAkyürek and my salutations to TolgaSaritas.

A must watch movie.

The film is an absolute visual feast

[blakuna · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

The film is a masterpiece with its cinematography, music scoring, plot, performances by the actors... Endless thanks to everyone who contributed to this: symphony of landscapes, the harmony of notes, the poetry of gazes, the visual feast of the performances, the ocean-depth of emotions.

Very disappointing

[capriotozzo · 1/10 · 25 May 2022]

It was not clear at times. Same story about soldier.who was affected by the war and seeing his friend die and what happened to him emotionally. Not a new story. I have seen it over and over. There was need for the nude scene with his wife. I Turkish movie they barely kiss. It was very disconnected.

Story of frienship broken by the war

[tprosello-08166 · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

Heart breaking story about consequences of war. The story of the friendship of captain Salih and liutenant Kerim is tell in a way of a very particular road trip, one that to understand you will need to watch with attention.

The acting is outstanding, as well as the music and photography.

I highly recommend this story to people that like touching and well acting dramas.

Classic turkish movie

[fatihguclu-53846 · 1/10 · 24 May 2022]

The plot was easy too se trough. From the begining uknow what gonna happen. I laughed so much in the end when Salihs wife told him she was pregnant. Its a classic turkish twist when u want to keep headactor a live in turkish movies.

A movie for open minded people, for those who are not stuck in stupid American blockbusters.

[jellybon · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

Yolun Acik Olsun aka Godspeed, a movie that stirs you from start to finish. I still haven't recovered from the disturbing and unexpected ending. A sweet-bitter happy ending, but behind this ending are hidden truths, traumas that you only get over if you make the ultimate sacrifice. A masterful interpretation. Engin Akyurek was Salih to the bone. Every look, every line brings a drop of the drama that is about to be revealed until the end. The traumas of war, the connection between the two comrades-in-arms, the promises made that must be fulfilled, the consequences that war brings on everyone's lives are so well and sensibly rendered, without force, without unnecessary violence. A story from which many lessons can be learned.

Bravo Engin Akyurek 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Bravo Tolga Saritas 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 On top of that, Toygar Isikli soundtrack 👍🏻

A very boring

[algsara · 1/10 · 24 May 2022]

A very boring and repetitive scenario..a cliché. What's the point of presenting a movie whose story has been told in hundreds of movies? Netflix Turkey always produces bad things. Tolga is a failed paragon. Engin is a very exaggerated actor.. why all this exaggeration in performance.

A very eye-opening and high quality project!

[pepperval · 10/10 · 26 May 2022]

This movie is simply a masterpiece! The acting, the cast, the cinematography, the music, everything works in perfect harmony to create a robust and a very realistic scenario that millions of soldiers go through in their everyday's lives. The message is simply mind-blowing, outstanding! I highly recommend watching it!

A never seen before story, not really.

[emirgecir-82396 · 3/10 · 4 June 2022]

An overused storyline that's easy to see through if you have watched more than 5 movies in your lifetime, someone faces a traumatic life event in the military, their inner mental state and thought processes blah blah blah.

The only good part I was able to see was when the car mechanic complained about him not getting the medical support he needed and the main character talking about how a veterans card is only seen as a free transportation card, these are criticisms that you do not see enough of in the Turkish cinema. It was also good to see some "graphic" makeout scenes going against the restrictiveness of the Turkish movies and series.

In the end so much production value and potential all going to waste for so little.

And as a closing sentence, I want to say that the movie has portrayed the Turkish army as ignorant and laid-back, we are all humans and make mistakes but depicting the Turkish soldier as someone who'd lack common sense and ignore all protocols just to talk about fishing ending up getting your friend killed and your leg blown off is more than absurd.

Godspeed is a small masterpiece

[Maisala38 · 10/10 · 23 May 2022]

Godspeed is a small masterpiece.

Very well performed.

Excellent photography.

Sublime soundtrack.

Congratulations to the whole team.

It is a film worthy of cinema collectors.

Engin Akyurek the best actor ever

[shoshstar-91347 · 10/10 · 23 May 2022]

I loved it and enjoyed it a lot. It is an integrated movie in terms of heroes, acting, directing and story. I will watch it again and again. The actor Engin Akyurek is a genius and international creator and a real talent😍

Brilliant!

[soldeorog · 10/10 · 26 May 2022]

This movie have everything, is funny is drama is emotional and is real, real traumas that happens all the time but is ignored by people, this movie is Hollywood style made, the acting is beyond any other Turkish actors, both main actors delivered very well every emotions. Bravo.

Brilliant...thought provoking! A must watch!

[tempresident · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

I laughed so hard and cried even harder.

What a brilliant, thought provoking movie! With excellent actors, excellent directing. It takes you into the world of a soldier...the trauma they have to deal with when returning from war, having lived through the most horrific moments, unimaginable.

This movie leaves you with deep thought and appreciation for what soldiers sacrifice. As well as their loved ones.

That boat scene at the end...wow.

Extremely beautiful!

[shafsa-44456 · 10/10 · 23 May 2022]

Literally have no words to express. Feeling kinda over emotional to write. Kerim and Saleh made me cry so much. My heart is hurting for Salih. Acting performed by both the main leads are extremely magnificent. High work can be seen in every scene. Highly recommended.

Totally Worth it.

[soldeoro_g · 10/10 · 26 May 2022]

Recomend to wach, you would be amazed by the quality of the whole project. Actors are superior of anything previous add in Netflix made in Turkey. The music was amazing, director did a great job, screenwriter described very well the characters psychology.

Real Facts And Story Line ,Predictable part of sections...A masterpiece for those people live in Reality !!

[Austista · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

What A Movie !

Even though it was a simple and ordinary story at the beginning, it was a movie that has a deep story and you can feel the pain most deeply. I think that movies like this will be more beneficial to people than classic Hollywood movies.

The actors did a good job in the movie.

Godspeed

[rcook-51713 · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

Best movie I've seen in like a very long while. Every character was fully engaged ! My best is the protagonists showing us in every sense the damage that war inflicts both mentality, physically and our emotional well-being !!! What a great story for us all to learn from and glean from. Congratulations.

Godspeed Review

[benitaferreira · 10/10 · 23 May 2022]

Excellent spellbinding movie. Expected nothing less from Engin, he is a phenomenal actor. All the cast gets a 10/10 from me. Good storyline. Laughed and cried.

Amazing film

[ginoak · 10/10 · 24 May 2022]

Amazing film Amazing cast Amazing acting Engin Akyürek, you are the best Have a unique performance Beautiful eyes expression And so handsome Love you so much.

I could not even breathe properly...

[majlissolsson-79070 · 10/10 · 25 May 2022]

A beautiful story line, but also a very intelligent and sophisticated way to tell the story, You were kept on your tows to see what ending it would be... I think Turkey has a unique way to tell stories, this is a good example. Good acting, good atmosphere!!

Without words , speaking with his eyes

[halimamoslima · 10/10 · 28 May 2022]

What a performance from Engin Akyürek, how he showed the problems from soldiers who faught, who were in the war . He is an actor who can speak without words , and only uses his eyes , you feel his pain, sorrow. He deserves much more appreciation . Further i never saw a chameleon actor as him , every other performance he changes his look.