WRONG ROSARY
Turkey, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Nadir Saribacak, Gorkem Yeltan.
Directed by Mahmut Fazil Coskun.
A film about religion, beliefs and barriers – as the title would indicate.
This is a very quietly gentle film (to say that it was 'low-key' might be to hype the description!). It is set in Istanbul where Musa has come to be the new muezzin. His neighbour is Clara who is tending a dying nun. They are both very shy and awkward in their manner. Musa is attracted but cannot bring himself to express this to Clara. Clara has other goals in life.
The film is a series of vignettes as they encounter each other in small ways. However, when Musa wants to return Clara's rosary beads which she has dropped with her parcels and Musa has retrieved, he follows her to the Church. He encounters a book-seller there and is invited to work part-time for him.
There are some complications, played low-key: the collapse of the bookseller, Musa being arrested because a cousin had given him some stolen museum manuscripts to sell, the death of the nun.
Religions are treated with courtesy and respect but there is a language of fate – and, even if Musa was to declare his love for Clara, their convictions would only present insuperable barriers for their devout lives. Which makes this a film of suppressed emotions, rather rueful and melancholic.
1.The title and expectations? Islam and Catholicism?
2.Audience knowledge of religions, the differences between Islam and Catholicism, the shared values, beliefs, the difficulties and barriers, especially with marriage?
3.The pace, quiet, low key, a focus on good people, suppressed feelings? Fate and disappointment?
4.The Turkish settings, the city of Istanbul, the neighbourhood, the mosque, the church, police station, shops, hospital, apartments? A sense of realism? The musical score?
5.The introduction, the nuns taking in the pregnant woman, the difficult birth, the nuns’ care? Clara and her adulthood? Her care for the dying nun? The background of Catholicism, religion, piety, care for others?
6.Musa and his family, travelling to Istanbul, his arrival, the apartment, going to the mosque, meeting the imam and the staff, their being friendly? His role as the new muezzin? His routine, waking at four, leading prayer, the small congregation, cleaning the mosque, his free time?
7.A shy man, settling in his apartment, the difficulties with the fuse, borrowing the screwdriver from Clara, her barely opening the door? Watching her through the window? Meeting her, stuck in the lift and her getting him out? Shy and awkward? Bumping into her, the bags, picking them up, getting the rosary, using it by mistake at the mosque, the reaction of the imam? Following Clara to the church, visiting the church, putting the rosary on the collection plate?
8.Jakup and talking with him in the church, Jakup’s interest in his Ottoman knowledge, the invitation to the bookshop, to work with him, friendship? Jakup and his following Clara? A sense of mystery?
9.The cousin, talking with him, crass language, bringing the manuscripts, showing them to Jakup, Jakup warning him, the phone call to his cousin, the sudden arrest, in prison, Jakup saving him?
10.Musa taking him home, his gratitude? Jakup’s collapse? Clara helping? The hospital, their staying? Musa introducing himself, Clara introducing herself? The friendship? The death of the nun, their helping with her? The visit to the town with Jakup, walking around the town, the photo? The revelation that Clara was going to Italy to be a nun? Musa’s sadness, not able to tell her of his love? The station and the farewell?
11.Clara, her personality, reserved, work in the church, buying the photos? Her albums? Caring for the nun, the detailed compassion? The nun’s death? Her relationship with Musa, shy, enjoyment of the trip, the photo?
12.Jakup and the revelation that he was Clara’s father, Musa finding the photos, his not being able to tell Clara the truth, not finding the right time?
13.A film of gentleness, religion, respect – yet fate separating people and providing barriers?
