Av: The Hunt

Turkish movie important in the denunciation of honor crimes still cruelly perpetrated against women, in a country that is candidate to enter the European Union, practically unpunished. It is commonly accepted in this patriarchal society. I recognize the relevance of the issue, but in my opinion is a only reasonable movie, nothing innovative. I have seen this theme dealt with much more strength in the seventh art. Don't make history, but it does contribute to change the present in Turkey. I recommend it only for its relevance.

Violence against women is a huge problem in Turkey. The existence of honor killings in which a women is killed when she does something dishonorable (mostly adultery) leads to women being killed by their own families.

However this movie takes these facts and twists them in a way to make an "action" film with an orientalist view catered to outsider perception of Turkey then what actually happens in the country.

The film takes places in Antalya a liberal coastal city visited by millions of tourists. In reality the vast majority of honor killings happen in Turkeys conservative rural south East. This is like having the movie Deliverance take place in San Francisco.

This movie is what cinema is for. Don't skip it because is Turkish; it is as Western as any Western independent films. It is obvious they didn't spend tens or hundreds of millions with it, but they made it not look like a cheap film and, benefitting also from the amazing scenery, came up with a movie that delivers perfectly.

If i have to find something bad, i would say the ending isn't as amazing as the rest of the film, but it's still good (and logical). All in all, the film is tense, scary, outrageous (because of the honor killings and of the medieval attitude of men against women) and makes you feel for the main character.

This is what you are after when wanting to see a film.

Saw this at the Imagine filmfestival, usually in Amsterdam but now 100% online. Indeed, a tense chase throughout the running time with no weak moments. However, we saw such chases in many other movies. The sole purpose of this one is to show the lowly position of women in that country, being the possession of men who can do whatever they want when she crosses the line. It is something we already knew, though an intense showcase like we see here serves very well to revive that notion. The social commentary is thus the core of the story. The finale leaves all involved empty handed, everyone looses.

Without shadow of a doubt, this was my favourite film of the online Frightfest. Some gripping performances and edge of the seat moments, made even more scary that for some women this is their reality. If you are considering watching this film, don't hesitate. Definitely worth a watch.