Yurt

Yurt is truly an impressive and thought-provoking piece. It masterfully narrates a child's struggle to find themselves within the constraints imposed by society. Nehir Tuna's direction, atmosphere, and storytelling are highly successful.

In particular, the scenes reflecting Ahmet's inner world deeply affected me. On one hand, he is caught between his father's and society's expectations, and on the other, he begins to question the rules after meeting a freer character like Hakan. This internal conflict is portrayed very realistically. The anxiety, helplessness, and curiosity in Ahmet's eyes were palpable in every scene.

The film's way of depicting the environment of the dormitory, the pressure, and how individuality is disregarded was quite striking. The dark and oppressive tones perfectly matched the story's atmosphere. In some scenes, I truly felt as if I were inside that environment.

Additionally, the film subtly weaves in elements of the political atmosphere of the era. Details like Sevinç's use of the word "Aczmendi" remind viewers of 1990s Turkey and its conservative structure. These elements are integrated into the narrative in a natural flow, without being overly blatant.

While watching this film, I couldn't help but put myself in Ahmet's shoes. His internal conflict, the obligation to conform, and the burgeoning desire for freedom all felt incredibly familiar to me.

Ahmet's growth in an environment trying to box him in-caught between the desire to belong and the need to be free-reminded me exactly of my own experiences. That silence, the waiting to be understood without saying anything, questioning whether he is doing the "right" thing with every move he makes...

I was reminded that courage is contagious, but it also comes with a cost. In the final scenes, Ahmet's eyes perhaps showed for the first time that he truly understood things. At that moment, Ahmet was no longer present; I was.

Hakan's fate and Ahmet's inner journey seem to be left for the audience's interpretation. For some, this might appear as an unresolved ending, yet I believe it makes the message the film aims to convey even stronger.

In conclusion, Yurt is not just a coming-of-age story, but a film that questions the impact of society on the individual. It is definitely one of those productions that should be watched.

I found this film to be exceptionally well-made. From the actors to the scenes, everything evoked a sense of nostalgia. The realism was top-notch. In my opinion, it beautifully portrayed the struggles of a child torn between Kemalism and Islam. It captured the essence of being caught in the middle, feeling trapped, with remarkable accuracy. These aspects were all very valuable. I was particularly struck by the line, "Who is greater, Allah or Atatürk?" I believe it was a significant statement.

Moreover, the film sheds light on the intense impact of religion and nationalism on children in Turkey, often unnoticed by society. This depiction of children feeling trapped between these powerful forces makes it a crucial piece of work. I hope it reaches a wide audience and that everyone has the chance to see it.

If you only knew how sorry I feel for our children who experienced this and similar things. Unfortunately, things like this can still happen. Children who are sent to such dormitories for a purpose without even consulting their children may face many psychological problems throughout their lives. They always filter the events they experience through a religious filter and forget who they are. They lose their own character because they constantly shape their perspectives according to the moral values imposed on them. As someone who has many friends around him, like our main character Ahmet, and who has talked to people who have experienced such things many times, I was amazed. The director touched on the sensitive points so correctly that I felt like I had experienced these things. An incredible expression, so emotional. In my opinion, every viewer can find something from themselves in this movie... Congrats all the actors, especially precious director Nehir Tuna.

The story takes place in 1996 in Turkey, but the film is also a reflection on Turkey today, a very divided country, although the power dynamics has changed a lot.

The film fits many categories: a family drama, a story of class and religious struggle, a love story, and maybe most importantly a coming of age story.

The director was probably influenced by many films, one of them may have been Truffaut's 400 blows.

The relationship between Ahmet and Hakan is complex, beautiful and tormented. Contemporary films from Turkey are not afraid of addressing queer feelings and homophobia (Not knowing, Burning Days, and Black Night -Karanlik Gece-), and Yurt is a powerful contribution to this praise of sexual freedom.

The actors give an impressive performance and the photography is stunning. A real treat!

Some films entertain, some impress, and a rare few reach directly into your life and show you a truth you hadn't yet found the words for. Yurt(The Dormitory), Nehir Tuna's hauntingly intimate debut, is one of those rare films. It is a quiet masterpiece-so precise in its storytelling, so understated in its emotion, and yet, somehow, so overwhelmingly powerful.

I watched Yurt and, for the first time in my life, felt as if a film had reached me not just as a viewer, but as a human being living through a particular place, time, and atmosphere. Every frame of this film breathes, pauses, and listens. It does not shout or beg to be noticed-it simply exists, fully and truthfully, in a way that feels more like memory than narrative.

The story follows a young boy sent to a religious dormitory, navigating the silence between belief and doubt, masculinity and vulnerability, discipline and desire. The setting-both literal and psychological-evokes suffocation, but never melodrama. Tuna's brilliance lies in his restraint. Instead of imposing judgment, he invites us to sit beside the boy, to see what he sees, feel what he feels, and above all, to remember.

Visually, the film is exquisite. The use of light and shadow is not just beautiful, but meaningful-it conveys everything that cannot be said aloud in this repressive environment. The color palette reflects the emotional state of its characters-faded, cold, sometimes harsh, sometimes warm enough to hint at the possibility of tenderness. Tuna has an exceptional eye, one that understands not only how to look, but when to look, and when to turn away.

What struck me most was how effortlessly the film communicated the complexity of growing up in a space where power, control, and religious ideology intertwine. There's no simplistic good vs. Evil here. Tuna treats each character-even the sternest authority figures-with a kind of compassionate distance. The dormitory itself becomes a metaphor for a society that demands conformity and punishes softness, but it's never reduced to just that. It's more than a symbol; it's a world-one many of us will find painfully familiar.

As someone who teaches a course on "Political Inclusion and Art" , It captures the nuances of our political and social reality without didacticism, without slogans, and with a depth that only great art can offer. It tells the story of a generation growing up under quiet, everyday pressures-expectations about who they should be, how they should feel, what they should believe. But it tells that story with care, patience, and immense artistic control.

Nehir Tuna is a filmmaker whose lens understands the youth of this country better than any political analysis. His gaze is not just observant, it is human. He does not dramatize suffering-he simply shows it, in its slow, real, and often invisible forms.

Thank you, Nehir Tuna, for making something so precise, so compassionate, and so needed. You've given us a story that lingers-and a silence that speaks louder than anything else.