I know very little about the PKK or the Turkish military, however I have met kurds who fought in various organizations fighting mainly against former dictator Saddam Hussein in Iraq during the 80's.
Watching this film that almost only depicts this conflict from the Turkish side, makes it very bias but offers also a rare glimpse into the Turkish feelings about terrorism, and the armed struggle against the kurds.
We get to follow a military unit in the Turkish mountains fighting against a mysterious terrorist(and his terrorist cell) who kills mostly of his enemies with a Dragunov sniper rifle.
Via a hijacked telephoneline he taunts the military units commander and also spreads his propaganda. The day to day harassments by this man and his terrorist cell is too much for the military commander and soon things will happen.
It is not heroic or waterdown version we get here, sure there are scenes when the Turkish military comes across as very noble but there is also fear, anxiety and quite simply the question of why are they here? Being deployed this far up in the mountains fighting a neverending conflict, for very little money, praise etc, is it really worth it?
There also scenes that contain very beautiful visuals, the cloudbursting, closeups on ice, etc and singing and poetry recitation by the young soldiers. For a western audience this may feel odd, and there are many passages that don't have any dialogues at all.
There is also some critique against the Turkish military, and this came as surprise for me, since Turkey has had a long history of military control and military coups.
It is very poetic war drama with some very graphic scenes of violence, anxiety, definitely not suited for kids. Some scenes reminds me of Terrence Malicks excellent war drama The Thin Red Line (1998), Coppolas Apocalypse Now (1979)etc.
So for viewers who has no problems with a slowpaced, poetic war drama should check this one out.
Watching this film that almost only depicts this conflict from the Turkish side, makes it very bias but offers also a rare glimpse into the Turkish feelings about terrorism, and the armed struggle against the kurds.
We get to follow a military unit in the Turkish mountains fighting against a mysterious terrorist(and his terrorist cell) who kills mostly of his enemies with a Dragunov sniper rifle.
Via a hijacked telephoneline he taunts the military units commander and also spreads his propaganda. The day to day harassments by this man and his terrorist cell is too much for the military commander and soon things will happen.
It is not heroic or waterdown version we get here, sure there are scenes when the Turkish military comes across as very noble but there is also fear, anxiety and quite simply the question of why are they here? Being deployed this far up in the mountains fighting a neverending conflict, for very little money, praise etc, is it really worth it?
There also scenes that contain very beautiful visuals, the cloudbursting, closeups on ice, etc and singing and poetry recitation by the young soldiers. For a western audience this may feel odd, and there are many passages that don't have any dialogues at all.
There is also some critique against the Turkish military, and this came as surprise for me, since Turkey has had a long history of military control and military coups.
It is very poetic war drama with some very graphic scenes of violence, anxiety, definitely not suited for kids. Some scenes reminds me of Terrence Malicks excellent war drama The Thin Red Line (1998), Coppolas Apocalypse Now (1979)etc.
So for viewers who has no problems with a slowpaced, poetic war drama should check this one out.