OUR GRAND DESPAIR
Turkey, 2011, 102 minutes, Colour
Ilker Aksum, Fatih Al Gunes Sayin.
Directed by Seyfi Teoman.
A rather grand name for what is essentially a small drama, neither grand, nor a matter of despair.
When a Turkish man from Germany is injured in an accident where his parents have been killed, he arranges with his two friends from school days that they take in his sister, a university student, and take care of her. They do. At first, it is something of an imposition but each of the friends takes to the young woman, one a more practical type, the other something of an intellectual.
In the meantime, the girl has a life of her own, a relationship, a pregnancy and the issue of abortion.
The focus, however, is on the two friends although there are a few other characters who come in and out of the story. The two men have a strong liking for each other, are very attached, do so many things together, have a domestic arrangement like a long-married couple. Whether the film has a sub-text about male-male relationships beyond friendship or is presenting bonding in a Turkish style, it is hard not to think of Western film-makers and their more explicit examination of male relationships.
The setting is Ankara, an interesting opportunity to see something of Turkey’s capital.
1. An Ankara story? Families? The reach out to Germany? The world of work, study, ordinary life?
2. The title – excessive in terms of despair? In terms of grand?
3. The realism of Ankara, the city, its vistas, the details of life there, the characters walking in the streets? The musical score?
4. The introduction, Fikret, his brace, the family mourning the deaths, his parents’ deaths, Nihal and his concern for her? Entrusting her to Enders and Cetin? His old friends? Nihal staying with them?
5. The portrait of Enders and Cetin, their age, past, friendship from schooldays, Cetin’s brother, Murat, Fikret and the memories? Their relationship, friendship with women? Cetin coming back to Ankara? Their living together as they always wished? The scenes between them? Their missing each other when each was away, sharing their life? Sharing responsibilities? The response to Nihal, at first an irritation, each, then, in his own way, in love with her? The importance of food and their cooking, recipes, watching television, outings? Similarities and differences?
6. Nihal and her grief, agreeing to stay with the two men, her being upset, alienated from them? The change, the different relationship to each, discussions with Enders, personal talk with Cetin? Her love for them? Her study, pregnancy, the issue of the abortion and the reaction of each man? Her boyfriend? Dropped off after the surgery with him? Her graduation, her brother, the photo?
7. Murat, his visits, talk, sharing the memories? Fikret and his return for the graduation?
8. The scene at the cemetery, the visit to the grave, closure?
9. The friendship, arguments, liking each other, irritations, meals – and continuing their life together?
