Büsra

In terms of cinematography I think this movie is not much better or worse than the other examples of profit motivated Turkish movies which were produced in abundance in the recent years. What makes it different than the others is its subject matter which divides Turkey to two halves. The problem here is that the producers who are originated from one of these camps cannot distance themselves from their ideology. Someone here says that art is secular etc. Anybody who knows Turkey would also know that secularist does not mean secular here. As Armenian-Turkish journalist Sevan Nisanyan puts it there are two religions in Turkey Islam and Kemalism. So being Kemalist does not mean being secular in art. Actually this is true more generally. Being an atheist does not make you secular automatically. If you say art under the dogma of religion is not art, how can you claim that art under the dogma of Kemalism, dogma of Socialism, dogma of Nationalism etc. is art? Is a Western movie showing how unhappy the women in Iran is more artistic than an Iranian movie showing how unhappy the women in the West? The bad thing about this movie is that it does not have even such an intention, it is just a commercial movie exploiting the headscarf controversy in turkey.

I was also impressed by the movie. Of course it could be controversial in the country. But for me it is just a story; a good story. Author has been interested in making a clear story without any prejudice to any of the sides. I am not saying that all the characters were well-formed whereas it is not necessary. Author managed to point the story of people looking for cure for their loneliness. And the final of the film is good at preventing any prejudice about the assisting characters to remain in mind. Film is not blaming or openly criticizing any side. It is just a story about coinciding lives. It is really romantic on the other hand. Cinematographically it has lots of flaws. But they do not ruin the taste totally. Taste it. It is 7/10

The director and cast are quite talented. But the content is not reflecting the correct lifestyle and views of a girl who wears headscarf and lives in Turkey.

It would be great if the writer could spend more time understanding how religious people think and perform in Turkey. The movie lacks of reality of the majority of religious people's lives.

It is successful from the point of view that it reveals the perspective of most of the secular people.

Loneliness, escape, isolation, rejection subjects are dealt very well.

Watch and observe.

A film full of heart and expert editing, Busra was shown in an independent film festival I attended. It was by was the best of the lot. I think the crew, especially the screenwriter and the director have a bright career ahead of them, as despite its very specific plot of a conservative Muslim girl falling in love with an agnostic journalist in Istanbul, my friends and I were hooked into the storyline.

Visually it was striking as well with a very pale and desaturated look that gradually changed as the love story between the two main heroes developed.

It's a shame good and powerful little films like this do not reach the American audience, it could bridge so much more than secular and conservative people of Turkey, and create empathy for Turkey's duality all around the globe.

A-

Day by day, the Turkish film industry is developing into a first rate one. I suppose the credit for this goes to young Turkish directors like director of Büsra. Breaking stereotypes of ordinary Turkish film efforts, it is a well-conceived premise, filmed with grace and with great use of the visual language. Camera movements are fluid and create great eye candy like American cinema.

The subject matter is a crucial one that has existed in Turkey for some time, but Europe is only just beginning to grasp what a great dilemma the headscarf for women are. How would you discuss the necessity of wearing it with a woman conditioned from birth? How could you stop the prejudice against it if you yourself had conditioning against religion?

These themes are explored with great effect in a love story that takes place in modern Istanbul. This is no film with camels and fez'. Istanbul is rightfully shown as the 12 million urban sprawl no different than Paris or London, without an identity of its own other than a crushing existence of contrasts. Modernity versus tradition clash in this simple but delicious tale.

The film is two hours, but I could have sworn that it seemed like 80 minutes to me, that was how drawn I was to a select screening in London. Low budget production values compared to high-end European or American cinema are apparent, but it is what the director has done with his limited possibilities that is astounding.

The editing and polish on this film is spectacular when you think that it cost as much as an episode of Eastenders. I did view some of the acting as over the top, but perhaps being from England I can't grasp some of the required backdrop to the story.

Overall you should see this film if you:

a) Are interested in the ramifications of Islam vs. love in a metropolitan setting. b) View the headscarf as either a redundancy or an indispensable fact of life. c) Enjoy well crafted independent movies with great storytelling.

8.8/10