★ 6 / 10
It definitely could have been better
clarioncall
The movie centers on the adventures of two zoologists as they pursue the Anatolian Panther, a species assumed to be extinct in Turkey. More than just a quest…
The movie centers on the adventures of two zoologists as they pursue the Anatolian Panther, a species assumed to be extinct in Turkey. More than just a quest for documentation, the film introduces the struggles and emotions of these two Turkish researchers.
The story begins by exploring the motivations of the students and Professor Feridun, who is deeply passionate about finding this exotic species. The first half of the movie unfolds with breathtaking forest scenery as the two scientists, Veysel and Emre, embark on their expedition. As the film portrays their collaborative study in the mountains, we also see how distinct their personalities are: Veysel is calm and deeply religious, while Emre is impulsive, skeptical and lacks faith (in the eyes of Veysel)
I found the first half of the movie to be well-balanced, leaving me confident that I was watching an 8-9/10 film.
However, the second half shifts focus more on the inner lives of the two characters, and the pursuit of the Anatolian Panther fades into the background.
1. The road trip taken by the zoologists felt overly long and disrupted the flow of the story. It seemed as though the production team might have wanted to showcase a variety of distinct geographical locations.
2. The visit to Veysel's village was an attempt to tie his background into the main narrative, but unfortunately, it fell flat. The religious ritual in the village also felt disconnected from the rest of the story. While Veysel's father (Alici) was portrayed excellently by Ali Seçkiner, his character remained shallow and loosely connected to both the panther and Emre.
3. The ending failed to convey a sense of pursuit, search, or transformation. Additionally, I expected the film to conclude with some information about the Anatolian Panthers or the researchers, even if it's not based on a true story. Due to the fact that, inspiration drawn from real life warranted a more fitting conclusion.
In terms of cinematography and thematic music, the production was solid. Although I hadn't seen another movie by Orçun Köksal, after seeing this film I'll be looking forward to more of his work.
In summary, the movie is enjoyable and offers exceptional natural panoramas. As an amateur viewer, I'd rate the first half 8/10, but the second half falls dramatically to a 4/10. Overall, a 6/10 is well deserved.
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★ 9 / 10
Bars, deeply touches
murat-gurler
I watched 'Bars' at the gala performance of the Istanbul Film Festival, and it renewed my hope in this branch of art. The film transported me to the beauty of…
I watched 'Bars' at the gala performance of the Istanbul Film Festival, and it renewed my hope in this branch of art. The film transported me to the beauty of Anatolia, which was symbolized by a lost animal, prompting me to question the present moment with the enlightenment of the past. It deeply touched me, and the beauty portrayed was timeless and boundless.
I have been following Orcun Koksal's work as a scriptwriter from the beginning and have always admired his achievements. In the past, I have also recognized such sensitivity in the works of Ali Ozgenturk, which I admired equally. Although 'Bars' is a slow-moving film, in contrast to contemporary films, it still manages to captivate and draw you to the screen.
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