Mutluluk

This delicately-paced story about the ironclad Turkish custom of honor killing encompasses all the restrictive practices of closed societies that grant no freedom to women and punish them for the sins of the men. Because young Meryem has been raped, she must be sent to Istanbul to be executed far from the shame at home.

Although the story has been told innumerable times, Bliss is as fresh as the Turkish breeze blowing over the sailboat Meryem and her cousin, Cemal, find refuge on after he fails to kill her transporting her to the city. It is difficult to expunge the images, like those in Knife in the Water, of purity and violation that hang around the boat while the skipper professor, knowing nothing of the horror Meryem has been through, takes on the couple as crew and eventually as students in the art of leading a happy life.

Director Abdullah Ogduz successfully mixes the lyrical escape with the impending doom, the happiness tainted by her past as an impure woman, and the relentless pursuit by a family bound to kill the young woman.

The three principals are as powerful as any others in this year's canon: Cemal is a robust young ex-soldier used to obeying officers and his father; Meryem, who refuses to accuse anyone of the rape, is a naïve with a second-grade education fascinated by the ship's map, a gentle metaphor for the transforming nature of the trip; professor Irfan, is a handsome, charismatic older man, who must navigate his own life to reach a more peaceful place, but not before he teaches the couple about love and life.

Bliss is an ironic title or not depending on your orientation. I recommend you make up you mind by seeing one of the simple sea stories that tells a much larger tale about repression and the emergence of women from imprisonment.

Maryem's innocent face will haunt you as the images of the romantic boat lull you into complacency about the hidden horrors of repressive societies.

Bliss is one of the best films to sail into theaters in the last two years.

Turkey, the exotic land of two continents. The westernized, colorful country in the large urban areas, and conservative, almost different century living in the remote, rural parts. Hence, the encounter between the jaded professor and the two lost young souls entangled in the madness of old traditions and beliefs. This beautifully filmed movie, slowly unravel these troubled lives. They touch upon each other, spend some time together and leave changed and perhaps a bit happier. Gentle, thoughtful film, acted with subtle passion and clarity, and above all, the stunning camera work.The breathtaking beauty of Turkish landscape tells the story of its own.

Bliss (2007)

Utterly gorgeous, and utterly deplorable for a Westerner to see the mistreatment of a girl in this way. I know I'm supposed to be open minded and accept that this Muslim Turkish culture is simply different than my own, but it's clear that the movie, made by Turks, is also a condemnation of the barbarity shown.

The movie is very sensitively done, very well filmed. I found it frankly slow, in terms of development, depending on a lyrical mood and terrific light to sustain ordinary moments as well as extraordinary ones. The contrast of utter modernity and utterly medieval ideas is fascinating, but also frustrating. But that's part of the point. It's quite a beautifully, tenderly made movie, with some very real types allowed to blossom.

In the end, by the end, it's so completely heartbreaking and heartwarming, you will fall in love with Turkey, and with what this film is saying about life so well, no matter what your beliefs.

'Mutluluk' is going to be an important step in the growing film industry of Turkey…

This is one of the most impressive movie since 'Eskiya'. I read the book and I can easily say that this is really very good adaptation of the book.The directing, acting and especially art directing is really successful. The score of the film was conducted bye the writer of the book 'Zulfu Livaneli'( who is also a great musician.) and gives the deep feeling of the book..This movie is about three characters escaping from their destinies… If you want to watch an amazing story go and watch the crashing stories of Meryem, Cemal and Irfan who is a professor who wants to escape from the lies and dirt of his fake life. Acting was very good. Although all of the cast is good 'Ozgu Namal' (Meryem) is one step beyond them.. She is fabulous…..

All in all, whether you read the book or not , if you want to watch a good film go and watch this film

Definitely the best film I have seen in a long time. I recommend this movie to anyone. The story line is great, it shows lifestyle of both eastern and western turkey and how easterners adopt the western life (well, they try anyway). Although both eastern and western people in the movies are from the same country, they are so apart that its almost as they are from different nations and religions. One is a modern university teacher and the other is a village man that brought a girl to Istanbul so she can kill her and win his families pride again. The actors are amazing and the movie is definitely worth many awards. I give it 10/10 and recommend this to anyone and everyone.