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Pandora's Box

Original title: Pandora'nin Kutusu
  • 2008
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Tsilla Chelton and Onur Ünsal in Pandora's Box (2008)
Drama

When an aging matriarch starts showing signs of dementia, her dysfunctional family in Istanbul must navigate a minefield of unresolved issues to care for her.When an aging matriarch starts showing signs of dementia, her dysfunctional family in Istanbul must navigate a minefield of unresolved issues to care for her.When an aging matriarch starts showing signs of dementia, her dysfunctional family in Istanbul must navigate a minefield of unresolved issues to care for her.

  • Director
    • Yesim Ustaoglu
  • Writers
    • Sema Kaygusuz
    • Yesim Ustaoglu
  • Stars
    • Tsilla Chelton
    • Derya Alabora
    • Onur Ünsal
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Yesim Ustaoglu
    • Writers
      • Sema Kaygusuz
      • Yesim Ustaoglu
    • Stars
      • Tsilla Chelton
      • Derya Alabora
      • Onur Ünsal
    • 5User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 15 nominations total

    Photos8

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    Top cast9

    Edit
    Tsilla Chelton
    Tsilla Chelton
    • Nusret
    Derya Alabora
    • Nesrin
    Onur Ünsal
    Onur Ünsal
    • Murat
    Övül Avkiran
    • Güzin
    Osman Sonant
    • Mehmet
    Tayfun Bademsoy
    Tayfun Bademsoy
    • Faruk
    Nazmi Kirik
    • Hirsiz
    Ilker Ozyildirim
    • Doctor
    Emrah Tinte
    • Director
      • Yesim Ustaoglu
    • Writers
      • Sema Kaygusuz
      • Yesim Ustaoglu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews5

    Featured review
    6/10

    Subtle Plot with Great Acting

    Pandora's Box must be kept closed. Once it is opened nothing is the same anymore. When Nusret joins the lives of her children in a most unexpected way, the status quo balancing the relationships of the three siblings changes drastically. Apparently it is Nesrin, whose story we mainly watch. None of her relations as a wife, a mother, a daughter and a sister are in a healthy condition. But through the narrative we find out that she was and still is the most responsible one of the three siblings. Also she cares a lot for her son, who apparently studies in a costly private university. Compared to Güzin, who is already a pathetic looser, Nesrin should have been the more successful sister with her marriage and motherhood. But she has got an obsessive instinct for control, stemming from her feeling of perfectness. She doesn't lie like Güzin or she is hardworking and prudent unlike Mehmet. This righteousness ego even allows her to intrude into her son's private sphere, because what she does is the right thing and serves to the good of everyone in the last analysis. Murat is not an evil guy or something. His encounter with the thief on the street just reflects that he is a normal person just like everyone. He is afraid of violence and death. Probably in his early twenties, he just tries to escape and Mehmet's lodge is apparently a suitable hermitage. The cutest irony of the movie is the comfortable friendship of Murat with her grandmother he didn't know before. Named after her deceased husband, Nusret really enjoys asking Murat's name again and again. Finally she is happy to have her companion. Anyway the meaningless life in the city is not worth to live for Nusret, especially when she must be the prisoner in an apartment house surrounded by concrete or in a nursing home. Although being considered as useless by her mother, it is only Murat who realizes that Nusret deserves more than that. The story is full with sad things and a happy end is arguable. The Alzheimer theme is unpleasant for the audience and it reminds one the death of parents as well as one's own. Maybe the only remedy to feel happy right after watching this movie is to adopt Mehmet's nihilism.
    • duelek
    • Oct 29, 2010
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 23, 2009 (Turkey)
    • Countries of origin
      • Turkey
      • France
      • Germany
      • Belgium
    • Official sites
      • Mozinet (Hungary)
      • Official site (Turkey)
    • Language
      • Turkish
    • Also known as
      • La caja de Pandora
    • Filming locations
      • Istanbul, Turkey
    • Production companies
      • Ustaoglu Film Yapim
      • Silkroad Production
      • Les Petites Lumieres
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $526,171
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Tsilla Chelton and Onur Ünsal in Pandora's Box (2008)
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