Love Me Instead

A heartwarming and heartbreaking movie. It felt like a medicine these days when we are longing for quality, local productions that touch the heart. The soundtrack at the end of the movie is pretty good too. A heartwarming and heartbreaking movie. It felt like a medicine these days when we are longing for quality, local productions that touch the heart. The soundtrack at the end of the movie is pretty good too.

The basic outline of the story is of an incarcerated man who is allowed to visit his daughter for a day (under the supervision of a prison guardian). The man has not seen his daughter since she was a baby and thus is very anxious and at the same time apprehensive to meet her. One cannot say much more without giving much away but I can add that it is not what you might expect.

The pace seems slow yet you understand why eventually. Behind every blink of an eye, every pursing of the lips, every slow moving frame there is some layer of the tragedies that have unfolded and are yet to.

The acting is perfection. No more to say. Sarp Akkaya is as always sublime in presenting a damaged character even behind a simple smile. Young Aleyna Özgeçen proves to be capable of working with such heavy and disturbing material. Ercan Kesal also provides a perfect supporting character who is there to help the audience connect with such a gritty world.

The story will keep you guessing and even when you think that all is laid before you, you keep getting small bread crumbs that add to the picture. It is a story that concludes with leaving the audience satisfied, grieved yet hopeful all at the same time.

A drama that is also a thriller. A movie that is dramatic with social issues - but also with quite a few twists along the way. And a movie in general that maybe thinks it's way more clever than it actually is. That being said, this is more than a solid effort overall and the acting really elevates it. Even when it is borderline and you are thinking that it may be a bit too much what you are getting served.

But to what lengths a father wouldn't go to find out the truth? But what truth is it? And will it be sufficient? And how easily can you manipulate someone like that? All questions that are more than valid. A strange ending to say the least, with strange emotions ... but depending on your moral views and connections to the characters it will either work or not ...

Turkish drama film directed by Mehmet Ada Öztekin and starring Sarp Akkaya, Ercan Kesal and Songul Oden, scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2021.

Akkaya and Kesal are amazing actors. The story is touching. The movie sticks to itself. It's an average drama and good at it.

The story started a little too slow. I had many questions in the beginning, as the characters and the mise-en-scene of some flashbacks were not fully explained. The director definitely kept us in the dark for too long. But after my questions found answers - somewhere half way during the movie - I started to feel more empathy for the characters. I LOVED the acting; Yonca's acting especially! And what I LOVED the most about this film is the portray of the location i.e. How the residents live, walk, talk and behave. Using real residents from this deprived area really gave this film a magic touch.

Great job director!