Reis Çelik’s Evening of Blindness (Kas Film) has emerged as one of many early front-runners within the Shanghai International Movie Competition’s primary competitors, providing audiences a gripping, tension-soaked expertise because it follows one evening within the lifetime of a girl making an attempt to flee her homeland through the Turkish navy coup of 1980.
And also you’d be hard-pressed to discover a movie that’s extra private amongst this yr’s spectacular primary Golden Goblet line-up, provided that it’s primarily based on the director’s personal experiences.
That a lot is revealed because the credit roll — and the viewers remains to be catching its collective breath — when there’s a observe from the filmmaker providing because of the individuals who helped him in that escape.
However for Çelik, the expertise of reliving — on movie — no matter trauma he went by way of was by no means the purpose right here. The veteran filmmaker says he needed to faucet into shared feelings — corresponding to worry — that could possibly be universally acknowledged wherever his movie may display.
“Though the story unfolds in a distant land, it explores universal human experiences. No matter which corner of the world we come from, we share the same human emotions,” he mentioned, when introducing his movie to gathered media. “I believe people around the world are increasingly ignoring and turning a blind eye to reality today. When making this film, I drew on Turkey’s past — especially its political history — to make my point clear. I think if we fail to face the realities of our history, we cannot grow as individuals, nor can our country move forward. That is why I express this idea through art.”
Evening of Blindness tells the story — in stark black and white — of a left-wing activist (Özge Arslan) who, whereas making an attempt to evade navy authorities, finally ends up being protected (or will she be betrayed?) by staff on a constructing website. As she hides away, virtually in plain sight however nonetheless secure, she watches helplessly because the authorities (led by a very nasty inspector, performed by İştar Gökşeven) interrogate the employees and inch ever nearer to discovering out the place she is.
Çelik’s Evening of Silence (2012) gained the Crystal Bear on the Berlin Worldwide Movie Competition and Evening of Blindness comes because the second a part of a deliberate Evening Trilogy.
“The reason I chose nighttime is this: in the dark of night, even the smallest detail or a tiny beam of light becomes extremely noticeable,” mentioned the director. “That’s why I chose to shoot this film at night. The same goes for people. We most often confront our true selves and our inner souls after dark. When you light a small lighter at night, that little flame stands out clearly — it strikes you deeply and touches your heart immediately.”
For Çelik, that very same concentrated depth extends to the movie’s storytelling itself: “I believe human beings have immense capacity for understanding. With just one look, if portrayed properly, you can convey a long‑lasting feeling and an entire, complex story. That’s the core reason I decided to confine the whole timeline to a single night.”
The winners of this yr’s Golden Goblet awards shall be introduced on June 20.
