Once Upon a Time in Anatolia

Viewers wil suffer as the characters do in the film. The doctor character can just leave if he wants to and not go through the rural minutia and drama; so can the viewers. But quitting a story where one is in the lead role means something else: would the story continue afterwards, and if it does, does it ever resolve?

Well acted, well shot. Some interesting twists. But the film didn't draw me in. I felt like I was watching someone else tell a story in a very detached fashion, as it happened. Almost like an incomplete documentary.

Life is hard and this film is, too. Hence it is full of satisfaction… Just be patient enough...

I tried watching, and normally I can be somewhat mature in my viewing, but although this did have some very interesting human interest, the fact that the premise for the plot is never explain at least in 3/4 of the movie, just drove me nuts. Is this a character study on stress and frustration?

Having watched three of his previous movies: Climate, Three Monkeys and Distant, I can say this is the best of his movie's list. The thing with Ceylan, to me, is the main focus on the simplicity of the surrounding. In fact, this element could be tedious or heavy to the audience when seating for 2 hours or more with no OST. However, this movie is great. It brings humor, personal struggles, political issues, social insight of the problems in small villages, human feelings with their flaws and how morality and integrity can go different ways for different people. Finally and not least, manhood issues with a tone of humor is superb. I did really enjoy this movie and as a comparison into a recent South Korean movie I watched, Memories of a Murder,I can say that detective abilities are very common in small villages to the point that could be almost equal in the way they are executed. Do not expect special effects or good looking actors, but that is the great thing on Ceylan's movies: real people with real issues. This is what keeps myself coming back to see what he will bring next time.

This is a movie that seems to develop very slowly but makes you think about the movie for days on end afterwards. The characters are extremely intriguing and the entire plot makes you understand the flaws of each character wowen in what seems like a rather simple plot. But simple is not what this plot or the movie is and it will make you wonder about each character for days or weeks after you watch the movie. Not for those who want fast action and easy answers fed to them by the director and screen writer.

This may be my first review. The movie is pointless and unending. My wife went to bed when she could no longer endure the boredom. I soldiered on in hopes a brilliant finale would be my reward. Alas, it was not to be.

Great depiction of life in a remote Turkish town. Cinematography was great as was acting - But the movie was extremely slow, and never came to any climax... Not even at the end.

This may not be the greatest movie of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, but it certainly is an exceptionally deep movie about "human nature". Excellent cinematography and notable acting as well. Nevertheless, "Climates" remains my favorite NBC movie thus far. Make sure you watch any NBC movie when you are %100 awake and not after a hard day at work. The viewer needs to actively participate constantly in NBCs movies in order to understand what the director's intentions are.

out of mind… this movie made me think a lot… a must see it…