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A Reel Life film section

Issue: 2014

Winter Sleep (2014) movie review

Turkish Dispute

196 minutes, subtitled. Still reading?

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... (Cannes Film Festival)

The festival's description of this film is interesting, because Aydin and Nihal don't raise their voices, so it doesn't seem so much stormy as disputant.

And disputes are what this film is all about. The question is, are disputes drama?

movie poster, Winter Sleep, Festivale film review; 220x307

Movie poster, Winter Sleep

One has to give director/writer Nuri Bilge Ceylan credit for managing to pass the time easier than one would expect for such a monumental amount of time, however he could have easily cut more than 30 minutes from the film without losing a word of dialogue.

This film enters scenes slowly and exits them the same way. It has long pauses and studies. Inspired by short stories of Anton Chekov, this could be appropriate, but does making a film so long dilute the message?

This film has a limited release, and frankly a limited appeal. Those who like it are enthusiastic and it has won several prizes. If you want deep and meaningful above drama then this film could be for you.

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by Ali Kayn
Australian release November 13 2014
For credits and official site details, see below
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Just the facts:

Title: Winter Sleep (2014)
Written by: Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Anton Chekhov (short stories)
Directed by: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Running time: 196 mins
Rating:

The Players: Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sözen

IMDb entry

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