Kis Uykusu (2014)

A hotel owner and landlord in a remote Turkish village deals with conflicts within his family and a tenant behind on his rent.

Director:

Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Writers:

Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Stars:

Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sözen, Demet Akbag

16 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Haluk Bilginer	...	Aydin
Melisa Sözen	...	Nihal
Demet Akbag	...	Necla
Ayberk Pekcan	...	Sofor Hidayet (Hidayet the chauffeur)
Serhat Mustafa Kiliç	...	Hamdi (as Serhat Kiliç)
Nejat Isler	...	Ismail
Tamer Levent	...	Suavi
Nadir Saribacak	...	Ogretmen Levent (Levent the teacher)
Mehmet Ali Nuroglu	...	Ogretmen Musterisi Timur (Timur, the teacher guest)
Emirhan Doruktutan	...	Ilyas
Ekrem Ilhan	...	Atci Ekrem
Rabia Özel	...	Fatma
Fatma Deniz Yildiz	...	Sevda
Masaki Murao	...	Japanese Tourist Erkek
Junko Yokomizo	...	Japanese Tourist Kadin

Storyline

Aydin, a former actor, runs a small hotel in central Anatolia with his young wife Nihal with whom he has a stormy relationship and his sister Necla who is suffering from her recent divorce. In winter as the snow begins to fall, the hotel turns into a shelter but also an inescapable place that fuels their animosities...

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Plot Keywords:

throwing a stone at a car | husband wife relationship | written by director | killing a rabbit | burning money | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Turkey France Germany

Language:

Turkish English

Release Date:

12 June 2014 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

Sueño de invierno

Filming Locations:

Cappadoccia, Turkey

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zeynofilm, Memento Films Production, Bredok Filmproduction

Technical Specs

Runtime:

196 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the wall in Aydin's study room, there is a poster of a play called 'Antonius and Cleopatra'. It is actually the play staged by the main actor of the film, Haluk Bilginer, who played the part of Antonius. This play had its premiere at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London at the International Shakespeare Festival in 2012. The original play was written by William Shakespeare who is also referred to throughout the film, for example in the name of the hotel (Othello) and during the discussion which takes place at Suavi's farm between teacher Levent and Aydin.

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Goofs

The books in Aydin's hands change during the argument with his wife.

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Quotes

Aydin: [Epilogue] Nihal, I didn't go away. I couldn't. Whether it's because I've grown old, or I've gone mad, or because I've become a different man, think what you like. I just don't know. But this new man inside me for a few days won't let me go away. Please, don't ask me to go either. I now understand nothing is calling me to Istanbul. Everything is alien to me there as it is everywhere else. I want you to know that I have no one but you. And I miss you every minute, every second that goes by. But ...

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Connections

References Climates (1974)

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Soundtracks

Sonata in A major D959 - Andantino
Composed by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

A true masterpiece. One of the best films ever made!

The truth is, when you read that this monster of a 3.5 hour film is the shortest 3.5 hour film you would have ever viewed, you don't believe or understand how that could be true... until, at least, you have sat through every satisfying scene of this extraordinary piece of cinema.

Every single scene, every single piece of dialogue is acted to and filmed with absolute perfection. The film reels you in from the very beginning and does not let go. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. There is no better way the Director Ceylan could have captured Cappadocia. Having visited myself, I feel as though Ceylan has managed to capture Cappadocia on screen better than I ever saw it through my own eyes in the few days I was there. It is horrifyingly beautiful!!

And the main character, Aydin, is a treasure to behold. He is such a talented, but yet flawed man, he is so human. Every character Ceylan has created is so human. That's what makes this film sooo amazing! Every character is so different in nature and personality to the other character, yet we somehow manage to relate to every one of them.

This is the kind of film where not much happens, but your jaw drops at every scene because Ceylan has filmed reality better than most of us live it. It is honestly quite scary. Most of our lives mutter on without us ever reflecting on it, properly anyway, because we don't really get the chance. However, when you watch Winter Sleep you can see a part of yourself in pretty much every character. You understand every person's actions in the film and there is no greater exemplification that, at least between the three main characters, the line of good and bad is ever so blurred. Everyone has their reasons, everyone has good intentions, but yet people just cannot get along harmoniously because they are naturally different.

Anyway, without going too far, the film is deep, and very interesting to watch. However, at the same time, the film is extremely humorous. Not your typical 'comedy.' In fact, if you like 'comedy' you probably won't laugh once during this film. The film is such an accurate portrayal of reality that it is funny. Watching the films as Turks, ourselves, the depiction of Turkish society, the mannerisms, the behaviourisms, and the actions of the characters, it's akin to living and breathing Turkish culture. I can think of many examples throughout the film, but without extending my review too long, I will only provide one example. For instance, in almost every scene, the characters are drinking tea. So typical. In another scene, as soon the characters finish drinking tea, coffee is ordered. It's not just the outcome, though, that is funny. It's the way Ceylan has captured the scene...so brutally honest, there is no sway from reality whatsoever.

I was honoured to be one of the first to watch this film at the Nova Exclusive in Melbourne. We were born and bred in Australia, but our Turkish culture is still imminent in us. This film is so universal everyone can enjoy it, yet somehow it is such an accurate depiction of Turkish culture and manifests the problems we humans all face across the globe - it really is no different no matter what nationality, culture or race you come from - ultimately, we all have to deal with relationship dilemmas!!

I found it amazingly funny in an interview I read with the director Ceylan who responded to the potential dark humour in the film..."I don't do comedies - I don't like laughing" - or something along those lines. Just as he muttered those words he burst into laughter himself. Ceylan has a tack for intellectual art. He has created something so beautiful it will require many repeated viewings just to digest the full glory of this masterpiece. I would love to re- watch it immediately!!