Film Review: Stations Of The Cross (15) (Germany 2014) (Director: Dietrich Bruggemann) (German, French & Latin with English Subtitles), Filmhouse, Screen Three, Edinburgh, Sunday 14.12.2014, 17:50

This is one I went to see due to the extent of critical buzz. The film shows a young follower of the Lord, within a modern-day fundamentalist Christian family, who in preparation for their Confirmation, spirals into martyrdom. The film shows what happens in defined-chapters, which have headings that emphasise the parallels to the Stations Of The Cross. Almost all of the film is made using static camera shots, which helps to focus upon the interplay between the actors.

The film has some, what I found to be, comedic moments, such as the followers mother raging against the evils of gospel and soul music. I found the film to be about the power of delusion. Some of the film had a degree of discomfort to the watching, and other elements were just sad; to see any young person self-persecuting to the degree of removing any joy from their life is not easy. I feel this is an interesting film, though I would not say it is enjoyable. 

Rating: 06/10.      

Film Review: Winter Sleep (15) (Turkey 2014) (Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan) (Turkish with English Subtitles), Filmhouse, Screen One, Edinburgh, Saturday 29.11.2014, 14:15

I went to see this on the strength of the director's previous film, 'Once Upon A Time In Anatolia' (2011), my 2nd favorite film of 2012. Winter Sleep concerns a hotelier, who is a retired actor and part time writer, the hotelier's younger wife and his embittered sister who lives with them and assists with the running of the accommodation for hire. The tale takes place in the fairly rural Cappadocia area of Turkey and is picked up at the point of paying customers thinning then running-dry in the lead-up into the winter period.

The film is 3 & 1/4 hours long, though it did not feel anything like as long as that; itself a mark of very good film-making. There are scenes of conversation between two people that run for over 20 minutes, though it does not appear to drag for a second and just adds to the engrossing nature of the piece. 

The film concerns how difficult it is for any one person to be able to be truly empathetic to another. How difficult it can be to put ourselves to the side and not allow our vested interests to colour interactions. The film also deals with perceptions of guilt and the fact that we always carry expectations of how we want/expect others to behave/respond. The film then concludes with ruminations on the idea of contentment and how this differs from seeking the ideal. The film considers what it can take, or what can lead to, someone being able to accept their circumstances as good enough. The absolute ideal being almost never attainable, yet how often in modern film do we have lead characters resolve to accept their lot as is, including the imperfect.    

The film is a compelling and deeply humane piece, as well as being visually beautiful. The film has a joyously ambiguous ending encouraging the viewer to ponder on what could/should be. Despite saying all of this, in regard to all of these aspects, it feels as though it comes up slightly short of 'Once Upon A Time In Anatolia'. This in itself is no criticism, more a reflection upon the excellence of his previous work. I would happily recommend this film to anyone who is into proper films.   

Rating: 10/10.