Milagre na Cela 7

An intensely moving, powerfully gripping & emotionally engrossing story of love, tragedy & kindness that's further uplifted by brilliant performances from its cast, the Turkish remake of the South Korean film of the same name is a riveting, soul-stirring & wholly satisfying drama that's expertly crafted & beautifully told, and is arguably even better than the 2013 original.

Directed by Mehmet Ada Oztekin, Miracle in Cell No. 7 (7. Kogustaki Mucize) uses the same premise but with a few modifications. The comedy aspect is lessened in favour of a more dramatic & heart-rending interpretation and though it traverses the same route, the tone & feel is a tad different. The sweetness & sentimentality in here can be overpowering but the central relationship makes it all worthwhile.

The real highlight however is the performances, especially from the leading duo. Aras Bulut Iyemli plays the mentally challenged father wrongfully convicted of a crime and he steals the show with remarkable ease. Nisa Sofiya Aksongur is in as his daughter and is adorable & impressive throughout. The relationship between the two is the defining core of this story and it is handled with so much care & tenderness that we are thoroughly invested.

Overall, Miracle in Cell No. 7 is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking and is one of the finest films to surface last year despite the predictable storyline, clichéd elements & melodramatic beats. A soulful, poignant & evocative effort powered by excellent work from its cast n crew, this emotional roller-coaster benefits a lot from its touching father-daughter bonding & strong supporting cast and is by all means worthy of your time. Definitely recommended.

If you came from another world and this was the first piece of cinema or film you consumed, or perhaps you have lived on planet earth for some time but have never encountered Turkish cinema, then I fancy anything after this experience will be ever so slightly disappointing, or struggle to catch the extreme highs and lows of this emotional roller coaster that buckles you up then turns you inside out. If your eyes and ears are connected to your heart and soul, if you're tear ducts are fully charged and ready to rock 'n roll - then go for it! Prepare to feel this as passionately as if you are part of the family in the story and, most likely, have that reservoir of tears streaming down your face at the injustices the world can inflict on the most vulnerable, unfortunate and forgotten. This is emotional, heartfelt storytelling at its absolute best!

What a heartwarming story. The actors were all amazing. My first Turkish movie. Now I have to watch more of their movies. My 2 boys and I were all crying a lot throughout the movie. Amazing...

I have watched the original korean version what was very good but the storytelling and acting of this Turkish version is in my thought better! Aras Bulut has played his role of his live in his first cinema film!

Today i watched a movie that at first seemed like a clichè, but turn out to be an homage to parenthood. Superb acting from turkish actor Aras Bulut Iynemli and young actress Nisa Sofiya Aksongur in a tale that'll melt the harshest hearts.

Big thanks to my good friend Edj. who recommended it to me.