Nefes (Turkish for 'Breath') is probably the most anticipated Turkish movie of this year. It is the best Turkish war movie of all time and has the best combat scene ever shot in the history of Turkish cinema, but, of course, what is there to compete?
Breath is about a small group of Turkish soldiers in a remote patrol station waiting for their near-certain death during a time the conflict between Turkish Army and separatist militant organization PKK reached its peak point. A major who had just lost two people in his command in a combat with PKK militants arrives at the station and takes charge. He finds it very difficult to step out of the state of depression due to his recent loss and so intimidates his soldiers into bettering themselves to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. During his stay there, he came across a PKK militant called the 'Doctor' who intervenes in his phone calls with his wife through radio frequencies. This becomes almost habitual with frequent exchange of hostile words between two. ' Why do you live like pigs instead of being a doctor in your village and serving your people' the Major asks and 'I would rather live in my mountains as a freeman than being a doctor from your universities' the Doctor replies. In parallel to that, we observe daily routines of soldiers and their sincere phone calls with their loved ones as we approach to the inevitable end.
It is obvious that the movie is intended to be a propaganda device. We sympathize with our soldiers through their several phone conversations with their families and friends. On the other hand, militants are depicted as zombies who attack innocent people stuck in a cabin just like in a George Romero movie. Their leader, the Doctor, even has that 'jigsaw killer' voice. That is probably why the movie with its full title 'Long live the Homeland' is already hailed by top army officials during its opening day. However, it is difficult to understand why? First of all, the film gives you the impression that Turkish soldiers stand no chance against fierce militants that coincides with PKK's successful recent raids to such patrol stations. Another thing is the conversations between the Doctor and Major. The Doctor sounds very 'cool' as a man who believes in a higher cause, and the Major, on the other hand, just uses some cliché sentences filled with swear words and there is also a hint (actually more than a hint at one scene) that the officer is inclined to commit war crime.
Leaving politics aside, the movie does succeed in creating a great patrol atmosphere, with beautiful shots of Turkey's eastern mountains. Clouds and fog are an important focus of attention, which takes you out of this world to a mystical place. Combat scene technically equals a good Hollywood movie. I have my doubts about how much an outsider would enjoy this movie considering the fact that it brings nothing new to the genre, but anyone who had been through 90s in Turkey would appreciate this movie thoroughly.
Breath is about a small group of Turkish soldiers in a remote patrol station waiting for their near-certain death during a time the conflict between Turkish Army and separatist militant organization PKK reached its peak point. A major who had just lost two people in his command in a combat with PKK militants arrives at the station and takes charge. He finds it very difficult to step out of the state of depression due to his recent loss and so intimidates his soldiers into bettering themselves to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. During his stay there, he came across a PKK militant called the 'Doctor' who intervenes in his phone calls with his wife through radio frequencies. This becomes almost habitual with frequent exchange of hostile words between two. ' Why do you live like pigs instead of being a doctor in your village and serving your people' the Major asks and 'I would rather live in my mountains as a freeman than being a doctor from your universities' the Doctor replies. In parallel to that, we observe daily routines of soldiers and their sincere phone calls with their loved ones as we approach to the inevitable end.
It is obvious that the movie is intended to be a propaganda device. We sympathize with our soldiers through their several phone conversations with their families and friends. On the other hand, militants are depicted as zombies who attack innocent people stuck in a cabin just like in a George Romero movie. Their leader, the Doctor, even has that 'jigsaw killer' voice. That is probably why the movie with its full title 'Long live the Homeland' is already hailed by top army officials during its opening day. However, it is difficult to understand why? First of all, the film gives you the impression that Turkish soldiers stand no chance against fierce militants that coincides with PKK's successful recent raids to such patrol stations. Another thing is the conversations between the Doctor and Major. The Doctor sounds very 'cool' as a man who believes in a higher cause, and the Major, on the other hand, just uses some cliché sentences filled with swear words and there is also a hint (actually more than a hint at one scene) that the officer is inclined to commit war crime.
Leaving politics aside, the movie does succeed in creating a great patrol atmosphere, with beautiful shots of Turkey's eastern mountains. Clouds and fog are an important focus of attention, which takes you out of this world to a mystical place. Combat scene technically equals a good Hollywood movie. I have my doubts about how much an outsider would enjoy this movie considering the fact that it brings nothing new to the genre, but anyone who had been through 90s in Turkey would appreciate this movie thoroughly.