Toprak

Toprak is one of these movies that grab your attention from the very beginning. It starts with stunning landscapes and a touching soundtrack while it shows us Cemil's land (toprak in turkish). Cemil is an old man that takes care of his mother and orphan nephew, Burak. Together, uncle and nephew work on the soil, feed the animals and sell pomegranates on a desert road. Living the same life, our two protagonists are different: Cemil doesn't trust the city people and Burak dreams about going to the city university. The story is raw and gentle at all times, it reveal us the hardness of the rural turkish life through beautiful and well-done shots without judging those people a single moment. We see how faith, tradition and nature affect Cemil and Burak's life and thoughts. Most of all, the film portrays what one can do for love and hope. Toprak has a genuine story that moves and incites the viewer with its simplicity and inherent beauty. It deserves all the awards and praise it has been receiving, it's definitely worth watching.