The Crossing (2010 film)
Encyclopedia
The Crossing is a 2010 Turkish drama film
directed by Selim Demirdelen, which is about a devoted family man who comes home from work oneda to find his house deserted. The film went on general release across Turkey on and was selected for several festivals, including the 47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival
and the 17th Adana "Golden Boll" International Film Festival
, where it won several awards.
After an ordinary day at work, Güven leaves his office, takes the bus. He walks on his empty street, comes home to his three-storey apartment building. He enters his apartment, changes his clothes, washes his face, and sits down on the sofa in the living room. The living room is empty. The house is empty.
reviewer Emine Yıldırım, "continues the prevalent notion in Turkish cinema in dealing with raw, dark and sullen emotions." "The story takes place in İstanbul", which according to Yıldırım, is, "shown here in its gray winter colors and atmosphere", but, "We are never really shown exterior images of the city except for the intermittent shots of highway traffic, for this is more of an interior film", where most of the action takes place in, what Güler describes as, "an office out of Franz Kafka's imagination".
"The film features stories of a handful of characters that at some point intersect with one another", which, "At first glance", according to Güler, "might give you the impression that it is a film in which the lives of the multiple characters intersect to a greater effect, exemplified by the recent films of Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
(Amores Perros
and Babel
) or some of the Robert Altman
classics, like Short Cuts
", but "When boundaries are threatened, however, Kavşak is more the story of a lonely man who has put his life on hold indefinitely", and according to Yıldırım it is "lead actor, Güven Kıraç, steals the limelight". "The characters and their stories", according to Güler "are craftily developed, and soon the audience cares about each character and their story", "and there is no scene that doesn't serve the beautiful finale". But while Yıldırım comends the director for, "taking his time in this tight script", he admits some reservations, "about the secondary characters", which despite being, "used as a tool to explore the depths of vulnerability and human connection in the shadow of destitution", "are questionable", and, "not wholly convincing". Yıldırım concludes, "the main story is the full-on driving force of this drama supported with intense performances by the lead actors (Kıraç proves once again what a diverse and compassionate actor he is) and a cinematic language that supports the genuineness of the characters’ motivation and behavior."
"Demirdelen, who comes from a background in advertising, knows how to tell a story and how to tell it to maximum effect", states Yıldırım thanks the director, "for reminding us that emotional complexity can be shown through action and reaction, rather than through cerebral thawing", and commends that "he doesn't allow his characters to wallow in self pity and stare into the void more than they need to". "Instead of revealing a big twist at the end", which according to Güler, "is very much predicted from the beginning of the movie", Demirdelen, "seems to be more interested in how the obvious mystery will unravel throughout the movie, and how it will have an impact on Güven's life and his psyche. So when Güven tells of what happened in a teary monologue toward the end, the scene seems long and at best unnecessary, damaging the slowly built character development." "Here's hoping that it doesn’t take that long for Demirdelen to begin shooting his next feature", Güler concludes, noting that, "There has been quite some time since his segment in 2005's Anlat Istanbul (Istanbul Tales
)."
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Selim Demirdelen, which is about a devoted family man who comes home from work oneda to find his house deserted. The film went on general release across Turkey on and was selected for several festivals, including the 47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival
47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival
The 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival was a film festival held in Antalya, Turkey which ran from October 9 to 14, 2010. Prizes were awarded in four competitions in the course of the festival, at which 191 films were shown at 12 venues across the city with the theme Cinema...
and the 17th Adana "Golden Boll" International Film Festival
17th Adana "Golden Boll" International Film Festival
The International 17th Adana Golden Boll Film Festival was a film festival held in Adana, Turkey which ran from September 20 to 26, 2010. Prizes totalling 575,000 Turkish Liras were awarded in three categories and more than 200 films were shown at nine different locations, including the Cinebonus,...
, where it won several awards.
Plot
Güven works at an accounting firm and leads an ordinary life. He is happily married and has a daughter that he loves more than anything. He boasts endlessly to his colleagues about his daughter’s achievements. His daughter is equally devoted to him, calling him every day when she gets home from school.After an ordinary day at work, Güven leaves his office, takes the bus. He walks on his empty street, comes home to his three-storey apartment building. He enters his apartment, changes his clothes, washes his face, and sits down on the sofa in the living room. The living room is empty. The house is empty.
Festival screenings
- 2010 Montreal World Film FestivalMontreal World Film FestivalThe Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
(August 26-September 6, 2010) - 17th Adana "Golden Boll" International Film Festival17th Adana "Golden Boll" International Film FestivalThe International 17th Adana Golden Boll Film Festival was a film festival held in Adana, Turkey which ran from September 20 to 26, 2010. Prizes totalling 575,000 Turkish Liras were awarded in three categories and more than 200 films were shown at nine different locations, including the Cinebonus,...
(September 20-26, 2010) - 2010 Festival do RioFestival do RioThe Festival do Rio is an international film festival in Rio de Janeiro.-History:The festival was the result of a 1999 merger of two previous film festivals, the Rio Cine Festival and the Mostra Banco Nacional de Cinema....
(September 23-October 7, 2010) - 10th Beirut International Film Festival (October 6-13)
- 47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film Festival47th Antalya "Golden Orange" International Film FestivalThe 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival was a film festival held in Antalya, Turkey which ran from October 9 to 14, 2010. Prizes were awarded in four competitions in the course of the festival, at which 191 films were shown at 12 venues across the city with the theme Cinema...
(October 9-14, 2010) - 33rd Starz Denver Film FestivalDenver Film FestivalThe Denver Film Festival is held in November, primarily in the Tivoli Union on the Auraria Campus and the new Denver Film Center/Colfax, in Denver Colorado...
(November 3-14, 2010) - 16th London Turkish Film Festival16th London Turkish Film FestivalThe 16th London Turkish Film Festival is a film festival held in London, England which ran from November 4 to 18, 2010. During the course of the festival seventeen feature films and two programmes of shorts were presented at the Apollo Theatre and the Rio Cinema.The festival began with an opening...
(November 4-18, 2010)
Reception
Hürriyet Daily News reviewer Emrah Güler describes the film as, "a beautifully crafted story of a wounded soul and how the intersection of stories from his life with those of others lead to haunting revelation and redemption", and which, according to Today's ZamanToday's Zaman
Today's Zaman is one of two English-language dailies based in Turkey. Established on January 16, 2007, the newspaper's main competitor is the older Hürriyet Daily News....
reviewer Emine Yıldırım, "continues the prevalent notion in Turkish cinema in dealing with raw, dark and sullen emotions." "The story takes place in İstanbul", which according to Yıldırım, is, "shown here in its gray winter colors and atmosphere", but, "We are never really shown exterior images of the city except for the intermittent shots of highway traffic, for this is more of an interior film", where most of the action takes place in, what Güler describes as, "an office out of Franz Kafka's imagination".
"The film features stories of a handful of characters that at some point intersect with one another", which, "At first glance", according to Güler, "might give you the impression that it is a film in which the lives of the multiple characters intersect to a greater effect, exemplified by the recent films of Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Alejandro González Iñárritu is a Mexican film director.González Iñárritu is the first Mexican director to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and by the DGA of America for Best Director. He is also the first and only Mexican born director to have won the Prix de la mise en scene...
(Amores Perros
Amores perros
Amores perros is a 2000 neorealist Mexican film, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Amores Perros is the first movie in Iñárritu's trilogy of death, and was followed by 21 Grams and Babel. It is a triptych; an anthology film, sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Pulp Fiction," containing...
and Babel
Babel
Babel is the name used in the Hebrew Bible for the city of Babylon.Babel may also refer to:-People:*Isaak Babel, Soviet journalist, playwright, and short story writer*Ryan Babel, Dutch footballer*Markus Babbel, German footballer-Places:...
) or some of the Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
classics, like Short Cuts
Short Cuts
Short Cuts is a 1993 American drama film directed by Robert Altman. Filmed from a screenplay by Robert Altman and Frank Barhydt, it is inspired by nine short stories and a poem by Raymond Carver...
", but "When boundaries are threatened, however, Kavşak is more the story of a lonely man who has put his life on hold indefinitely", and according to Yıldırım it is "lead actor, Güven Kıraç, steals the limelight". "The characters and their stories", according to Güler "are craftily developed, and soon the audience cares about each character and their story", "and there is no scene that doesn't serve the beautiful finale". But while Yıldırım comends the director for, "taking his time in this tight script", he admits some reservations, "about the secondary characters", which despite being, "used as a tool to explore the depths of vulnerability and human connection in the shadow of destitution", "are questionable", and, "not wholly convincing". Yıldırım concludes, "the main story is the full-on driving force of this drama supported with intense performances by the lead actors (Kıraç proves once again what a diverse and compassionate actor he is) and a cinematic language that supports the genuineness of the characters’ motivation and behavior."
"Demirdelen, who comes from a background in advertising, knows how to tell a story and how to tell it to maximum effect", states Yıldırım thanks the director, "for reminding us that emotional complexity can be shown through action and reaction, rather than through cerebral thawing", and commends that "he doesn't allow his characters to wallow in self pity and stare into the void more than they need to". "Instead of revealing a big twist at the end", which according to Güler, "is very much predicted from the beginning of the movie", Demirdelen, "seems to be more interested in how the obvious mystery will unravel throughout the movie, and how it will have an impact on Güven's life and his psyche. So when Güven tells of what happened in a teary monologue toward the end, the scene seems long and at best unnecessary, damaging the slowly built character development." "Here's hoping that it doesn’t take that long for Demirdelen to begin shooting his next feature", Güler concludes, noting that, "There has been quite some time since his segment in 2005's Anlat Istanbul (Istanbul Tales
Istanbul Tales
Istanbul Tales is a 2005 Turkish drama-anthology film, directed by Selim Demirdelen, Kudret Sabancı, Ümit Ünal, Yücel Yolcu and Ömür Atay, which tells 5 interconnected stories set in modern day Istanbul based on the fairytales Snow White, Cinderella, Pied Piper, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red...
)."
Awards
- 17th Adana "Golden Boll" International Film Festival17th Adana "Golden Boll" International Film FestivalThe International 17th Adana Golden Boll Film Festival was a film festival held in Adana, Turkey which ran from September 20 to 26, 2010. Prizes totalling 575,000 Turkish Liras were awarded in three categories and more than 200 films were shown at nine different locations, including the Cinebonus,...
- Best Director: Selim Demirdelen (shared with Levent Semerci for "BreathBreath (2009 film)Breath is a 2009 Turkish drama film directed by Levent Semerci. The film, which tells the story of 40 soldiers in charge of protecting a relay station near the Iraqi border in southeastern Turkey, was adapted from the short stories Tales from the Southeast and Ground Minus Zero by Hakan Evrensel...
") - Best Actress: Sezin Akbaşoğulları (shared with Nergis Öztürk for "EnvyEnvy (2009 film)Envy is an 2009 Turkish drama film, written and directed by Zeki Demirkubuz based on the novel of the same name by Nahit Sirri Orik, about a married woman who has an affair with the son of a rich man...
") - Most Promising Newcomer (actor): Umut Kurt (won)
- Best Music: Selim Demirden
- Best Director: Selim Demirdelen (shared with Levent Semerci for "Breath