Honey (2010)

In order to make a film deep and engaging, it doesn't always require a philosophic brilliance in the idea or an alien avant-garde approach to it.specifically if its to be in the domain of realism like this drama does all the depth and beauty of the art depends on the simplicity and reality which the filmmaker invest in his work. its the third of Semih Kaplanoglu's Yousuf trilogy; the final one. and like the previous ones it pretty much relies on the same approach. The simple yet emotionally developing life of a kid is beautifully portrayed. Throughout the movie one finds himself passing through a subtle experience, a slow, deeply rich performance something which is more of the characteristics of European cinema.Besides the director has done good cinematography and a concise script that fits brilliantly with the nature and country side.

I would recommend it to all those that hold cinema higher than the source of mere recreation. its simple yet powerful you will definitely enjoy it.

Fmovies: BAL is a spectacular film. It's not a film meant for festival audience. It's not a film promoting some highly intellectual ideas few can make sense of. It features a breathtaking beauty, beauty of life itself. Without any superficiality such as music, effects and faster than life rhythm it creates suspense so much so that we stay on tip toes till the end wondering: what shall become of Yusuf? And we find it out at the end...OK I don't want to spoil it. But let me tell you one thing when the movie was over nobody could move from their seats. This is the miracle of Dir.Semih Kaplanoglu. No doubt Golden Bear was a well earned award for him and for BAL.

The very intelligent director lets the story tell the story itself with much sophistication! The story is so profoundly blended into and diffused through actors in a highly natural way & path that are so close to the real life! With only few lines as most mountain farmers do not speak much, the facial expressions, postures, reactions to each other, body languages of actors tell the story and even animals help reinforce the story. I watched it twice and felt the power of the story even much stronger, a great silent power of the story that is told in a nearly silent way. While watching it, my physical & spiritual senses were all open to receive the story. it is composed through eyes, ears, nose, tongue, throat of the director's, and then conceived by the same senses, plus mind & heart of the audience's. The film has the best ending I have ever seen! Yusuf doesn't know how to react to the tragedy and he & the story exactly show that way, again in a highly natural way & path to present it! It is definitely one of the best films ever made in the world! ^0^

Honey fmovies. beauty is the basic virtue of film. the beauty of images, the crumbs of mystery, Bora Altas are parts of this delicate, light-dark movie.a slice of pure life. that is all. and the delicate art of director to create the thirt part of a trilogy. seductive Turkish film, it is mixture of different lines of common life, religion and forms of poetry, small gestures and childhood perceptions. embroidery of signs and looks,it can have a lot of keys. but fundamental thing, the secret of this fragile construction, reflection about essential ingredients of life remains this special beauty. but it is not the unique source of fascination. because it is a correct story and each viewer has chance to discover his well known part. the school, the relation with the father, the image of mother, the wood, the different feelings, the search, the sleep and the shadows from little Heaven are drops who can make Honey a real good movie.

Set in the Black Sea area of Turkey, BAL is a vivid depiction of village life under threat. Yakup (Erdal Besikcioglu) tries to make a living collecting honey, but finds that there is no money in it. He travels to another part of the region in search of better prospects, but meets a sticky end. His fellow-villagers eke out an existence through traditional pursuits such as rope-making, but they cannot really survive. The main focus of the action is on Yusuf (Bora Altas) a young boy who feels unable to communicate with the outside world; possessed of a stammer, he is frequently laughed at by his classmates. The only was he can survive is through dreams of a better life - whether it be in the Black Sea region, or as symbolized by the elements (such as the moon). The cinematic style is slow, with plenty of long shots allowing viewers to contemplate the characters' reactions within the frame. However director Semih Kaplanoglu uses this style to make an acute commentary on a declining way of life, as well as showing the ways in which children are often forced to do things they don't want to, both at home and at school. A complex film that befits repeated viewings.

From time to time you encounter a movie that's excellent, but somehow doesn't get to you the way it should. This one's such a movie.

So much is done the right way: the calm narrative style and some wonderfully photographed scenes deepen the already atmospheric location work; the actors are convincing; and there's no need for cheap plot twists and conclusions.

But something's missing, maybe some sort of magic realism that would transcend the simple story into a meatier concoction.

I liked it, but I didn't love it.

7 out of 10 humiliating book-readings