Don't ask me what Heidegger has to do with a European co-production by Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu, winner of Golden Seashell at San Sebastian with Pandora's Box. The film depicts the story of aging and Alzheimer diseased Nusret (Tsilla Chelton who acts superb) a cute and sweet curse. One day she is lost in the mountain where she lives alone. They say there is no country for old men:) in modern society! Nusret's disappearance puts her children Nesrin, Guzin and Mehmet (all lost in their city-life, who is lost then? Mother or her children?) on a journey to their native country. En route, the pandora's box of the family is opened, and their life shall not be the same again. They find the mother and take her with them to Istanbul. But Nusret suffering Alzheimer gives them every sort of difficulty. Believe me it is difficult, I can tell this as someone who has similar experiences in his family. This side of human experience is strange! And you know what: an ancient philosopher Philo says ''Why should we not call madness death, seeing that by it mind dies, the noblest part of us?". Shame on him, I say, if he meant what he said! In Istanbul, Nusret longs for the mountains back in her home, she is like a nightingale in a golden cage, as it is said. She is not the only one feeling like this in the circuits of nihilistic life. There grows an understanding and communication between her and her grandson Murat, a most unlikely friendship in a way. Nusret with her hurricane like nature, with her Alzheimer and with her longing for the mountains plays the final act of her personal existential drama to teach a lesson to sons, and daughters, and grandsons, and to all of us! Nothing nots.. Listen to a certain song of Turkish rock-band DUMAN before you watch the film! Read Heidegger or Derrida of hedgehogs.. You gonna love this film, if you get what I mean! 8 out of 10. Highly recommended...
Review of Pandora'nin Kutusu
