Movies
A film that reminded me of Du Welz' Adoration, though Big Big World is more arthouse-leaning. The presentation is polished, the performances are strong, and the pace is deliberately slow. Erdem aptly builds up the tension, but the finale left me a little wanting. Still, this was a lot better than I'd expected. Dialogue is minimal and there's not too much in the way of tiresome exposure, so you'll have to do a bit of work with this one. The score is haunting (though a little repetitive), and the cinematography is sharp. The film doesn't outstay is welcome either, so very few remarks except that it could've used a better ending.Read all
A strange film that reminded me a bit of Tarr's Werckmeister Harmoniak. The barren location mixed with the slightly fantastical elements provides an interesting premise. Erdem also pays enough attention to the presentation, the score and sound design in particular are notable. The performances aren't the greatest though, and the film is at its best when the fantastical elements are in play, but these scenes aren't dominant. A shorter runtime and more focus on the mysterious vibe could've improved Kosmos considerably, but it's still an interesting attempt and one of the better Turkish films I've seen.Read all