16/17
Tale
Lia, a retired teacher, vows to find her long-lost niece, Tekla. Her search takes her to Istanbul, where she meets Evrim, a lawyer who fights for transgender rights, and Tekla begins to feel closer than ever. Spoilers ahead. Not in Pleure Pas Starring Tülay German. Levan Akin is a great director and this film is flawless. Istanbul is beautiful and inviting, but at the same time it can feel terribly lonely to a foreigner, and that essence is captured so well in the backdrop of this road movie. Every role is brilliantly played, and the acting is excellent. Several themes are explored: longing for family, regret, and humanity in all its diversity. The three main actors (all of the actors, really) gave nuanced performances that were so believable. There is very little sex or violence here. Great writing can convey that without being graphic. These types of interior films shot on location aren’t easy to make, but after seeing this, I need to see every Akin film.