Winter Sleep

Parental Rating: No Rating

Contains: Language    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens January 16, 2015 in Dallas

Runs 196 minutes (Yes - that is correct)

This movie won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and was Turkey's official submission for Oscar consideration.

This is a fascinating film. I read that the title actually translates to Hibernation and that is the overall feel of this movie - people preparing for winter hibernation. Aydin is the richest man around town. He owns rental properties and the Othello Hotel, the only hotel for miles and miles. He is also well-educated and a former Thespian. He lives on the grounds of the hotel with his much younger wife, Nihal and his recently divorced sister, Necla. As winter nears ad the weather begins to turn, we begin to see the cracks in the relationships between these people and some of the townsfolk, too. Winter will soon isolate them and they will be forced to confront one another in close quarters. Secrets, desires and animosities will be revealed. 

There isn't a lot of action in this film but there are undercurrents of tension throughout.  Not everyone is going to like this movie but I loved it. The scenery is spectacular and the hotel and surrounding town are just fascinating. It really allows the viewer a glimpse into how these Turkish people really live.  The film is long but it is never boring. The actors are great and their faces are so expressive. I wanted to go look up this hotel on-line just to see if it existed. I was captivated. And, if you are an art film buff and just really love different (and subtitled) movies, take the time to see this one.  (I would recommend the big screen, I'm not sure how it would translate to a DVD).

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