YE?IM USTAO?LU | TURKEY, GERMANY, FRANCE | 2012 | 124' | TURKISH WITH DUTCH SUBTITLES
"I wondered what it would be like to fall in love with someone in such a fleeting and temporary place as this service station." This sense of wonder lies at the basis of Araf (Purgatory), Turkish director Ye?im Ustao?lu's fifth film. She also wrote the script to this delicate drama. As in her previous films, she links personal problems between people to social issues; in Araf family and romantic problems are linked to poverty and the lack of opportunities. Ustaoglu does this with beautiful imagery, shot by the experienced German director of photography Michael Hammon.
18-year-old Zehra and Olgun spend their days and nights working in a highway service station near Istanbul. They both dream of a better life elsewhere, as their home situations aren't so wonderful either: Olgun's stepfather is an alcoholic, whereas Zehra has strict conservative parents. Olgun is very much in love with Zehra and longs to leave with her. But she doesn't return his feelings. What's more, one day she gets involved with a truck driver, someone who brings the outside world nearer and offers her a chance to definitely leave everything behind.
Screenings
Venue: Rialto
SUN 17 AUG – 20.45 