Bonita

It was impossible to stay away from the hype for a new Berkun Oya movie after the great Bir Baskadir. In that sense maybe Cici does not hit as hard but it is no way a waste of one's time. The relationship between the father and the son is a very important theme and Orhan Pamuk says the father always kills the son in the East, which in a way is the case here. In Cici, the storyline that did not translate to me was the Cemil-Saliha love as I can not picture Saliha remaining emotionally attached after moving to the big city. The scene where Olgun Simsek argues with Okan Yalabik was incredible where I can swear it happened just in front of me. The casting was perfect with the transitions between young and old versions were flawless. The family discussion at the barbecue/mangal revealed all the real intentions of characters in a very natural way where the writing was sublime. One last bit of question on my side is whether Saliha spent enough time in Ankara to become the rather sophisticated urban woman that is portraited but this might be quite picky.

Discounting a couple of problems caused by two distinct narration styles applied in the beginning scenes and the rest parts of the movie, Cici is a fascinating family drama. Despite its plain and unagitating langue, the movie skilfully achieves to build a riveting and immersive story.

In addition to many succesful scenes and glorious acting performances, this movie also deserves attention even for only mesmerizing performance of Olgun Simsek (character Cemil), who creates an excellent scene (in the middle part of the movie) with an inimitable smile spreading a great sorrow.

Congratulations to director-writer Berkun Oya and the whole team.

Never have I ever seen such a full bodied turkish production with such cross referenced editing and interwoven story and succesful character development not only in a leading role but in the entire parts. The cast, acting, set design, cinematography, picture, editing, sound.. they all combine in this contemporary masterpiece.

Titled ironically, the movie throws many questions in the air. Whether lf things could have been else way, would they bring happiness in life or does growth and progress always happen for the best?

A continuos feeling of nostalgia crushing your heart over and over, the movie (imo) is in the league of Cinema del Paradiso.

A film signed by Berkin Oya, who deserves the title of 'Auteur' director even before he is 45 years old.

The movie wasn't actually made for Netflix. Netflix later joined the project and bought all the rights of the film without being a passenger of the Antalya Film Festival.

Berkun Oya, who has worked at every stage of a set and gained experience, presents us with the master framing, actor/actress management and script language that we are used to in this film.

The advantage of having full control in the series, theater plays, films and even in writing is a plus.

If we talk about this movie; The fact that he used the experienced actors and actresses for the cast and inexperienced actors in the same frame and the equal distribution of roles in each frame is proof of how much he trusts himself.

Having started his career as a cameraman, Yagiz Yavru's cinematography is magnificent.

Ali Aga, on the other hand, made the film even more watchable with an edit worthy of him.

Eli Haligua and Fatih Ragbet did a great job in sound engineering.

It would take pages to praise the names in the cast of the movie one by one, everyone in the cast believed in the work, many of whom had already worked with Berkun Oya...

But a round of applause is needed for Okan Yalabik and Nur Sürer...

Sweetie I especially admire the narration by the director when he points out the verbal violence in families. Also, it is striking how the brain copes with the guilt. To me, the film screams for a few things: The domestic violence exists- it is not only physical as some believe. Patriarchic father figure and mother instinct have just crashed into each other! Suppressed emotions always find a way to be revealed. Traumas, which mean being wounded mentally, sometimes require our attention, again and again- Being recalled by the brain means that they needs to be resolved.

Just like a bleeding scar.