Sibel

This is a fine film, solidly acted across the board, which introduces us to village life in Turkey's northern mountains. Shots of wilderness and village settings are great and, while not that much actually happens, the plot and the main character's plight, continue to grip the viewer throughout.

What's different here is the extraordinary Sibel, mute because of a childhood illness, she communicates via an ancient whistling language (originally evolved to allow farmers to 'talk' over very long distances) now spoken and understood by only a few. Because of her disability, she is treated somewhere between a child, not required to cover her head (presumably because no man will want her) and a man, allowed to go freely around the village, fields and forest, carrying her rifle. Her attitudes are interesting - she fearlessly takes on an unknown male assailant, but makes no resistance when the older women of the village attack her. Even more interesting (and producing perhaps the best performance of the film) is the attitude of her conflicted father, the local mayor. Sibel provides him with the domestic support, cooking and cleaning, that any widower expects of his daughter in this society, but also with the companionship usually provided by a son as the two go hunting together and he declares with pride that she knows the forest better than any local man. At some deeper level he understands that not only disabled people are abused by this culture, but, through Sibel, that women are too. Even in his position of power though, he is unable to change anything.

The script is a bit less reliable - for example it's not believable that the prissy younger sister would have the courage, let alone the skills required to track Sibel into the deep forest undetected. But the upbeat ending is fine. This is not victim-feminism, but presents a character able, despite a wobble or two, to function well despite all the odds stacked against her by both her disability and the chauvinist society she lives in.

From the heart of the forest in ancient times a farseeing and intrepid woman returns with a magical fire that draws the other women of the community. The bad spells that are cast over them are broken and together the women shine. There is no telling when this mysterious woman might appear.

Because she is mute Sibel is considered bad luck and is bullied by the other women in the village including her little sister. Sibel's pariah status is partially a blessing in that it grants her an unusual independence. In her spare time she roams the forest with a rifle looking for a wolf to kill. A dead wolf would improve her status with the other women and so the hunt consumes her. Sibel communicates by whistling, an ancient language understood by many in the community including her single father, sister, and an elderly recluse she befriends. When Sibel stumbles upon an injured fugitive in the forest she risks her safety, independence, and family honor by helping him, yet she is too lonely to let him go.

This enthralling story of female empowerment unfolds in Turkey's resplendent mountain forests of ancient spruce, mist, and patches of sunlight. The story loosely parallels that of the Scarlet Letter where a shunned woman becomes a positive source of wisdom and inspiration for other women in the village. There are many touching scenes such as when a hopeful Sibel shows up at a dance in a sparkly, flowery dress handmade by her reclusive friend, and she is shamed by her little sister. This powerful and encouraging story of feminine prowess is needed in all places, even in America, where women shun enlightenment and education in favor of pleasing men who treat them with disdain. The film is not a showcase of acting skills or cinematography, but it is believable and heartening.

The actress and character are so badass you are left wondering why nobody else around sees that. That's a big part of the irony of this film. Aside from that I cared so deeply for these characters, great direction and storytelling. It was a thrilling journey. I could imagine this being a best foreign film nominee, it was that good!

From the moment Sibel (Damla Sönmez)makes her appearance on screen, she captivates us through her beautiful expressive eyes and launches us into here world. She is a mute communicating only through whistling, ostracized by her fellow women tea plantation workers (and even her younger sister) for she is considered a bad omen - whether for someone getting pregnant or getting engaged. Only a half mad woman Nairn, who she visits occasionally seem to accept her. Sibel tries to break this vicious stigma and tries to gain acceptance by her community by killing a wolf which apparently is foraging the mountains and the whereabouts. She is armed with a rifle which her father has given her and she sets traps for the wolf. Despite her efforts the wolf never appears, but she manages to capture an army deserter (and hence a traitor to the locals) through one of her traps. Eventually this cascades to a tragic/dramatic turn of events where her relationship with her family and the villagers is tested and turned on its head. I found this film to be a powerful film, that is visually breathtaking at times, cruel, intense and captivating in its core issues. What happens when a foreigner is trying to raise an awareness which we cannot even comprehend because of our closed outlook, superstitions, religion maybe, culture etc? A dramatic turn of events, help Sibel (who in reality is somewhat free because of her handicap. She goes around without wearing a scarf and with a rifle like a man) to break the Silence that her stigma put her in, becoming a person in her own right. No longer a slave to her culture or community/familial ties, when several truths sink in, she is willing to pay the price to become her own person and obtain true freedom. This film almost deserves a second watching

In a rural Turkish environment, the film describes for a few days a young mute woman (Sibel) who is rejected by an inhospitable and rough village community, and confronted with customs of another time. The overall result is a little bland: 5/6 of 10.