10 DAYS OF A BAD MAN

Turkey, 2023, 123 minutes, Colour.

Nejet isler, Riza Kocaoglu, Ilayda Akdogan.

Directed by Uluc Baraktar.

2023 saw the release of a Turkish drama, a Detective investigation, 10 Days of a Good Man. This sequel was released soon after. And, in the offing, is a third film, 10 Days of a Curious Man.

This film takes up two years after the original story, the central character driving through the desert, a car accident (and later suggestion that he might have been wanting to kill himself), rescued by two henchman of a gangster, Sir, to whom the central character, now calling himself Adil, is indebted.

There are actually two investigations in this film, Sir setting Adil to find a wealthy young man who has been responsible for Sir’s niece’s suicide. And we discover that this is a frame-up, to get the vengeance but to incriminate Adil. But Adil is also approached by a young woman, introducing him to her mother, the story of a murder with quite some complexity.

As the film progresses, both investigations are completed. Adil also has the help of a young woman, from the first film, young, sexually provocative, skilled with social media, tracking down the man that they are searching for, luring him on. And she is provocatively sexual towards Adil whol then tells her, along with flashbacks, the story of his marriage, his wife, the birth of their child, the death of both, the burial.

There are complexities with Adil as he goes on his way, quoting Hamlet, a variation on the Chandler and Hammett investigator.

There has to be some kind of tying themes together – to be ready for the third film.

1. The second part the trilogy? The impact of the first film? Characters, situations, detection?
2. A Turkish film, the atmosphere of Turkey, desert, locations, Istanbul? The musical score?
3. The film drawing on the first part, establishing character, heroes, the villains in the behaviour in the first film, Sidak changing his name to Adil, the opening, driving the car, the accident, intending to kill himself? The encounter with Parminer, memories of the first film, the issue of his wife and daughter, the flashbacks, deaths, funerals? The first film and the encounter with Sir, gangster, the commission, fulfilment and death?
4. Adil rescued by Sir’s henchman, his injuries, pain, painkillers, Sir and his treatment, the commission, to find the missing man, motivation, the two henchman accompanying him?
5. The encounter with Buket, the story of the deaths, her wanting to commission him, being a doctor, the discussion about prescriptions, payment, her taking him to see her mother, the explanation of the scenario, suspicions? The dead man, his wife, fickle, the couple working, accused of stealing, disappearing, the butler, his leaving, the back story and his relationship? Adil accepting the case?
6. Paminer, from the first film, her age, studies, sexually provocative, getting the information for Adill, social media, tracking down contacts, identifying the man search for, connecting with him on line, taking the provocative photos, sending them, his response? Her own life, plans, relationship with her mother? Tantalising Adill? In on the action?
7. The investigation of the death of the murdered man, suspicions on Buket, storage the past, her cousins? Motivations? The discovery of the couple did on the Bulgarian border? The interview with the butler, his giving information? The final explanations?
8. The night clubs, the search, Sir and his intervention, Adil realising the plot, Sir and his vengeance, the suicide of his niece, blaming the rich man, the gun, framing Adil? The two henchman, impressed by Adil, pledging their loyalty to him?
9. The two henchman, developed as characters, their own lives, relationships, with Sir, changing allegiance, and their loyalty to Adil?
10. Finding the young man, warning him off? His father, wealthy, connections? The setup for the confrontation, the guns, shootouts?
11. The ultimate effect on Adil, health, loss of consciousness, recovering, the memories of his wife throughout the film, love for her, opening the hotel, the return, his mother, Paminer and the men, a new beginning?