L'estate arida

Director's cruelty on animals, casts a shadow on his otherwise great film.

This is a tense, strong drama, although perhaps not for the squeamish. The photography is artistically done, on the other hand the looping is typical 60s; that is, artificial. Evocative use is made of the santur, a Turkish string instrument like a cimbalom. A completely different kind of music accompanies fights and scenes of violence. Then we switch to avant garde atonal riffs; here the instruments are Western. The camera is almost always close to the action, helping to create a sense of claustrophobia. The dialog is sparse; the director preferring to rely on meaningful glances. There are no snappy one-liners. Most of the film is easily understood without even looking at the subtitles. There are some particularly memorable, even disturbing images near the end. The title might be better translated as "Thirsty Summer," suggesting as it does the rapacity driving the main character.

An opposing and epical scenario in cold war period. Depriving the whole village of his property, a man changes the destiny of a society where he lives. In the end, he grabs there is no benefit of his own fortune as long as this fortune is shared..

before i watched, I had not expected such a gripping and fascinating film, i think its because we all (Turks) are used to watching funny village films with full of comedy where we burst into laugh even one kills another but this film shows us the dark side of village people with their great will to stay alive while trying to get the water (or any other) they need for their districts. usually village people (still, but especially in 1960s) are supposed to be uneducated and carrying gun with them in case there's an attack from other village people, in that case we should not be criticizing why the man does not agree to give water to all his neighbours, its very normal if we consider not everyone has the same brain cells, that is as normal as why there was world wars before. We cannot ask why for this film and for these times because simply there are no rules and the most brave with a gun in hand may grab all and dominate all. I have 2 things in mind, the musics are very interesting, because if there is no action you hear traditional Turkish tunes, with "saz" (a stringed Turkish instrument) but when there is action, you hear something like Bach with harpiscord, that is realllyyy interesting for me to hear this instrument in a Turkish Village film :)) the second thing is that was it necessary to kill those animals ? i think no, the director (metin erksan) could have made it possible easily if he wanted to. Anyway, its a must watch film, not only because it won the first golden bear from Turkey, but, also because probably it deserved. you might like the film very much or you might hate i don't know, but you will not get bored that's a guarantee... (try the new edited version in u-tube, its really great and as if it was shot 10 years ago)

A cult movie. Best movie in 60s. Erol Tas is a great actor.