Kader

We don't get Turkish films in Australia, apart from the odd festival piece. We have to wait for the DVDs to arrive or to be sent by relatives. I have just seen Kader.

How interesting it is that characters and reviewers alike talk about Bekir's love for Ugur. In every culture, there is a degree of confusion where love ends and obsession begins, but in my experience it has always been a particular Mediterrenean/Balkan disease. The director, very skillfully, conveys that in an environment where all conviction is hopeless dedicating a life to a person makes as much sense as any other formula for living. Bekir's obsession for Ugur intensifies because of, not despite, her rejection of him. However, the film is much more than a doomed love story. It is at once an exploration of alienation of youth, a study of roots of violence and a critique of machismo culture. Bekir's character reminded me a line from a well-known Turkish poem: "Like a pain without a body / seeking an organ to attach itself" (my translation, my apologies to purists). In reality, the line applies to all the major characters in the film. Much criticised ending is perfect, in my opinion. I cannot imagine a better way to end this important addition to modern Turkish cinema.

Bekir is married,has two kids.But he loves Ugur,he goes wherever she goes.Ugur is a bar singer,she loves Zagor,she goes wherever Zagor goes.Zagor is a cop killer,he visits prisons all over in Turkey.An endless story about two lovers...

A great story written,photographed and directed by Zeki Demirkubuz.Well acted at the same time.Vildan Atasever as Ugur.Now one of the most talented actresses in Turkey.And especially Ufuk Bayraktar as Bekir.Watching his change in the role is really fascinating.The movie,the cast and the crew everyone deserved the Altin Portakal.Congratulations...

If movie art would be mentioned as a football game, i would assume Demirkubuz as Johan Cruyff. I think Kader is the best example of the simple and fascinating character of Turkish Movie. Simplicity is the key word not only of Demirkubuz and Cruyff, but also of being expressive directly in movie art.

In the final part of film, the speech of Bekir is like the bullet of the speech of Frank (Denis Hopper) of Blue Velvet, it had its place in deepest part of my heart.

If we should make a choose of a masterpiece, Kader is the first candidate with its original and impressive language.

Demirkubuz was always going to have a hard time matching the brilliance of 'Masumiyet'. While 'Kader' is a good piece of work, you cant help but feel he was trying too hard to recreate the 'Masumiyet' magic here.

The biggest problem I had with the film was how characters were built up and dropped like hot potatoes somewhere along the way with their fates left unresolved. Case in point. A significant portion of the film's first half deals with Ugur's dysfunctional family- her father's state of illness, her mother's desperation, her brother's self esteem issues etc. However at the halfway point, these characters simply disappear off the radar and the film moves on as of they never existed in the first place.

Script and pacing issues aside, the other main weakness here is the lead actor Bayraktar who I thought was very wooden. He seemed to be simply reading the lines off the script without actually getting into the character. When he does attempt to stop brooding and display emotion, it comes across as artificial and forced. About the rest of the cast. Vildan Atasever, the lead actress, does quite well playing 'Ugur', but I felt her character was underwritten in the script. I must say that she reminded me of Itir Esen in this film- the resemblance is uncanny. A special mention must go to the actress who plays Bekir's (ex?)-wife. I thought she brought real emotional depth and complexity to her character. More of her would have really influenced the film in a positive way.

A lot of people have been disconcerted by the abundant swearing in the film but I didn't find it to be much of an issue. I appreciated the dark tone which was carried on from 'Masumiyet'. The camera angles are often static and Demirkubuz prolongs scenes which give it an unpolished natural feel.

Let me conclude by saying that 'Kader' is quite well made, but its missing that extra emotional oomph that 'Masumiyet' had

Zeki Demirkubuz has his personal cinema aspect as the other legends and this view makes this movie the unique movie in the History of Turkish Cinema.

The leading role is the most important role in this movie because of his ability of show how normal Turkish guys love.

Also the movie show us how can a man ruin his and his family's life. The issue looks like ordinary,simple and routine but the director shows how important issue it is. Camera views , sound , dialogs are great Zeki Demirkubuz will be a legend in a few years. Original, different, extraordinary, must see..