Bir Tutam Karanfil

Another example of poetic, scenic, slow Turkish cinema. An old man drags after himself the burden of mortality to utter exhaustion, dragging alongside a girl who's forced to face it prematurely. There's little dialogue except strangers' meaningless chatter. The two are alone amid the barren winter landscape. Adding to the desperation is an existentialist monologue heard on the radio about the meaninglessness of life and the relief of unborn children being spared the torment, not falling short of Beckett-esque "nothingness". And yet, amidst it all, there's the kindness of strangers and the girl's artistic talent, thriving in cavemen conditions. Occasional hallucinations are born out of primordial fear, hope, or indeed, Love. Is it only a vow that makes the old man risk his life and jeopardise his granddaughter's, or something which transcends a duty, to persevere in nothingness? The film ends with what sounded like an enthralling instrumental rendition of Neset Ertas', the "Poet of the steppe"'s most famous song, Leylam. I don't know Turkish, but the lyrics of the original song can't be too far from this:

My summer turned to winter/ My house and village crumbled/ My words are frozen/ They don't change a thing

You are the curtain on my eyes each second/ I see you everywhere I look/ I hope that God won't bring apart/ Birds flying in the sky

To be away from the beloved is to die/ Tell me what's happening to me/ Uncanny destiny/ Befalling me like snow.

"Cloves & Carnations" is a perfect example that sometimes we don't need a complex script to have a truly deep and emotional film which thanks to masterful cinematography with brilliant camerawork tells us a profound story with very little dialogue. This moving narrative gives us a detailed look on how an old man with his granddaughter cope with the tormenting task of bringing the body of their deceased relative across desserts, mountains and dusty roads. The scenery plays an important part in this picture for the desolate hills around the Turkish borders reflect the loneliness and desperation that both of our protagonists must feel. Eventhough I must admit that I personally enjoyed this film, I am aware that it could not suit everyone because of its overall slow pace and artistic approach.