Winter Sleep

Turkey   d/ Nuri Bilge Ceylon

Another remarkable film from this Turkish master. This was a 31/2 hour, slow-paced look at the life of a rich villager in Cappadocia who runs a hotel and functions as local slumlord. We focus on the interpersonal relations of those who live in his household, his dominance of their lives and their struggles to overcome his soft-spoken tyranny.

There were conversations in the film that lasted 20 minutes and were increasingly lacerating, revealing as they developed. When the film was over we felt we had gained a privileged peek into their private lives and thoughts.

The lead was outstanding. He was on screen nearly the entire time but I never got sick of him. His family did though...

A world class film, a brilliant follow-up to Anatolia. a film for cineastes. No commercial potential.

8