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Love Me Instead (2021)

User reviews

Love Me Instead

22 reviews
8/10

Complex yet interesting

The story started a little too slow. I had many questions in the beginning, as the characters and the mise-en-scene of some flashbacks were not fully explained. The director definitely kept us in the dark for too long. But after my questions found answers - somewhere half way during the movie - I started to feel more empathy for the characters. I LOVED the acting; Yonca's acting especially! And what I LOVED the most about this film is the portray of the location i.e. How the residents live, walk, talk and behave. Using real residents from this deprived area really gave this film a magic touch.

Great job director!
  • me_is_we
  • Nov 26, 2021
  • Permalink
8/10

Is Love the source of all good...and evil?

The basic outline of the story is of an incarcerated man who is allowed to visit his daughter for a day (under the supervision of a prison guardian). The man has not seen his daughter since she was a baby and thus is very anxious and at the same time apprehensive to meet her. One cannot say much more without giving much away but I can add that it is not what you might expect.

The pace seems slow yet you understand why eventually. Behind every blink of an eye, every pursing of the lips, every slow moving frame there is some layer of the tragedies that have unfolded and are yet to.

The acting is perfection. No more to say. Sarp Akkaya is as always sublime in presenting a damaged character even behind a simple smile. Young Aleyna Özgeçen proves to be capable of working with such heavy and disturbing material. Ercan Kesal also provides a perfect supporting character who is there to help the audience connect with such a gritty world.

The story will keep you guessing and even when you think that all is laid before you, you keep getting small bread crumbs that add to the picture. It is a story that concludes with leaving the audience satisfied, grieved yet hopeful all at the same time.
  • E_S_Nightingale
  • Mar 13, 2022
  • Permalink
7/10

Love me .. instead

A drama that is also a thriller. A movie that is dramatic with social issues - but also with quite a few twists along the way. And a movie in general that maybe thinks it's way more clever than it actually is. That being said, this is more than a solid effort overall and the acting really elevates it. Even when it is borderline and you are thinking that it may be a bit too much what you are getting served.

But to what lengths a father wouldn't go to find out the truth? But what truth is it? And will it be sufficient? And how easily can you manipulate someone like that? All questions that are more than valid. A strange ending to say the least, with strange emotions ... but depending on your moral views and connections to the characters it will either work or not ...
  • kosmasp
  • Dec 29, 2021
  • Permalink
7/10

Sarp Akkaya

Turkish drama film directed by Mehmet Ada Öztekin and starring Sarp Akkaya, Ercan Kesal and Songul Oden, scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2021.

Akkaya and Kesal are amazing actors. The story is touching. The movie sticks to itself. It's an average drama and good at it.
  • yusufpiskin
  • Nov 18, 2021
  • Permalink
7/10

Changes for Turkey?

The acting was superb cinematography was fine music was fine a little long but what I really couldn't get over is the whole moral code of a father protecting his daughter now I have lived in the Middle East a large part of my life and I've also known a lot of Turkish people both in Istanbul and in the states they are very strong in their convictions in general but this morality play Has to be updated -even for turkey It plays like something more from maybe the third or fourth century. Like Lebanon turkey was once a very modern state for that area.
  • Bgappl07
  • Nov 20, 2021
  • Permalink
10/10

Best Drama in 2021

Thais Movie is the best Drama i seen in 2021... very good actors... good musik and picture... the plot in the film is great and very much taken from reality.
  • privateeroglu
  • Nov 28, 2021
  • Permalink
8/10

Bravo 👏

I was searching on Netflix what film to watch and this caught my interest. It has all the ingredients of a good film. It's one of those films that make you think rather than let the film think for you.

I really enjoyed it, the acting is superb, the small details such as the guitar playing in the background, the rundown drug infested town the gaunt looks of the drug users the scene where you see the dead body of Musa's daughter all added to this film.

It's one of those films where you are emotionally involved and it leaves you thinking about it for the next few days.

I would definitely recommend you to watch.
  • zangi1090
  • Sep 15, 2022
  • Permalink
9/10

very nice

A heartwarming and heartbreaking movie. It felt like a medicine these days when we are longing for quality, local productions that touch the heart. The soundtrack at the end of the movie is pretty good too. A heartwarming and heartbreaking movie. It felt like a medicine these days when we are longing for quality, local productions that touch the heart. The soundtrack at the end of the movie is pretty good too.
  • velialperatli
  • Nov 18, 2021
  • Permalink
3/10

Offensive-for the intelligence

So many flaws, so pretentious, I really felt offended, my brain felt offended.

The plot is so irrational that made me wait the whole time (the movie lasts fot too long anyways) fot the twist that will make slme logic. Charachters not fully developed so you can't even relate in any way with any of them.
  • elvira-korda
  • Nov 19, 2021
  • Permalink
8/10

Great acting by talented Turkish actors!

It's been more than half an hour since I finished watching the movie and I still couldn't recover from the hole it opened in my soul. Very well knitted sad story of a father is being told along with great acting by talented Turkish actors. Well done guys. Very well done.
  • Moosty
  • Nov 21, 2021
  • Permalink
10/10

The Art Of Movie !

  • monstablocka
  • Feb 14, 2022
  • Permalink
10/10

impressive

Describe with just one word...

impressive amazing heartbreaking talented great fantastic top unforgeatable fantastic and... last few years i saw some good turkish movies, but never comment imdb about them. This movie worth it!
  • mfbindebir
  • Nov 25, 2021
  • Permalink
1/10

Complete waste of time

Very disappointing and unbelievable story, especially towards the end.

I am not sure how some reviewers gave this movie 10 stars, we must have been watching different movies.

Like one reviewer tried to compare Turkey to Lebanon, nothing to compare here. Also Lebanon was and still is a modern country.
  • lolla-21773
  • Nov 26, 2021
  • Permalink
9/10

Very interesting,dramatic movie

I really loved this movie. Very well directed,interesting,great acting. Pure drama,with plot twists. Raises social issues as well. Sarp Akkaya gives an acting recital,as always.
  • vasso-ierem
  • Nov 20, 2021
  • Permalink
8/10

Antalya ghetto

  • armaganbronz
  • Dec 4, 2021
  • Permalink
10/10

Phenomenal

Your impression of the movie will likely depend on your background and culture, which is a software issue. Every single frame, scene, gesture and word (even unspoken) resonated deeply within. That movie is another test to see if one can understand oriental culture. Few movies impressed me more than this one, and I watch a lot of movies.
  • buckyberdan
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • Permalink
9/10

Magnificent acting!

The acting level is so high and superbly natural, i mean the way of talking, mimics looks etc.. Story is more than satisfying. I felt ashamed that i didnt noticed Ercan Kesal before or producers in Turkey feel the same.. it is hard to catch a flaw in his talent.
  • m00018099
  • Nov 25, 2021
  • Permalink
10/10

Majestic!

Excellent film, humanist, very moving without clichés. The story is told in a very subtle way, the actors are amazing! Impossible not to shed a tear ...
  • cedricterlik
  • Nov 22, 2021
  • Permalink
10/10

A Masterpiece And Nothing Less

This movie deserves a thousand stars and not just 10

It is a masterful portrayal of the great injustice that prevails across the country

The rich and unscrupulous rule everything and behave as if they are untouchable

They believe that just because they are rich and have corrupted part of the justice system, they can do anything

These parasites don't hesitate to unleash hell on Earth to maintain their power.

This problem is not limited to Turkey but affects all countries in the world - more or less, but definitely

But the film also shows that there are still brave people who are not afraid to fight back and will do anything for their families and loved ones.
  • toughcomexpres
  • Jun 23, 2023
  • Permalink
10/10

Amazing

A great movie and advice everyone to watch it.i like the story and the actors and how the father handle everything and how the police man helped him.. I like it and i enjoyed every minute.
  • yosomary
  • Jan 20, 2022
  • Permalink
9/10

WOW unexpectedly great

This was my first Turkish movie and I loved it. Little confusing in the beginning but director put it all together. Great acting. Great story emotional and some nice plot twists. Totally recommend this wonderful movie.
  • ronnienahem
  • Jan 10, 2022
  • Permalink
9/10

Pure reality.

This movie is a good example of how today's neo-liberal practices introduce loneliness and despair into our lives. Lonely lives that we cannot notice even though they are very close to us. Ercan Kesal and Sarp Akkaya perform outstanding.acting. Ercan Kesal's close-face scenes are truly impressive. Ercan kesal shows us the despair which is occurred from the social turmoil. He feels unbearable despair due to not reaching or touching his daughter mind. I think it must be these shots that make cinema art. One comment; soundtracks may be chosen more impressive. I would like to thank to director of the movie.
  • tatlisuoglu
  • Nov 6, 2023
  • Permalink

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