Honey

From time to time you encounter a movie that's excellent, but somehow doesn't get to you the way it should. This one's such a movie.

So much is done the right way: the calm narrative style and some wonderfully photographed scenes deepen the already atmospheric location work; the actors are convincing; and there's no need for cheap plot twists and conclusions.

But something's missing, maybe some sort of magic realism that would transcend the simple story into a meatier concoction.

I liked it, but I didn't love it.

7 out of 10 humiliating book-readings

after watching hundreds of grate classic Hollywood films, Italian and French unforgettable masterpieces , it's amazing that this specific Turkish movie made it to the top of my list. It is made accurately and neatly , you can see how specific was the directors planning. The story touches the viewer using less words and a more gestures.the connection to nature is very beautiful. the opportunity to get inside a Childs world is as always magical. actors don't even feel as actors , so that is also well done. I never heard of this director before , hope to see some more of his work in the future. I think this movie is intended for film lovers who watched European films before and are use to the slow timing and long cuts , for those who have not watched these before i recommend watching this one if you are trying to get started. waiting for more!

beauty is the basic virtue of film. the beauty of images, the crumbs of mystery, Bora Altas are parts of this delicate, light-dark movie.a slice of pure life. that is all. and the delicate art of director to create the thirt part of a trilogy. seductive Turkish film, it is mixture of different lines of common life, religion and forms of poetry, small gestures and childhood perceptions. embroidery of signs and looks,it can have a lot of keys. but fundamental thing, the secret of this fragile construction, reflection about essential ingredients of life remains this special beauty. but it is not the unique source of fascination. because it is a correct story and each viewer has chance to discover his well known part. the school, the relation with the father, the image of mother, the wood, the different feelings, the search, the sleep and the shadows from little Heaven are drops who can make Honey a real good movie.

it is tempting to define it as art film. or as poem about life. or as masterpiece. in fact, it is only a story. a story like many others from the old times. a family. a boy. memories. and the absence. all is well known. the film is only support for remind. and each scene becomes a trip in yourself. a circle around basic truths. rediscover of the purpose of cinema. this is all. a family. a boy. the father. and the forest. like a line. letters and signs and the voice of teller. parts of reflection of world in yourself.

Bal is the Turkish word for honey, and that is part of the storyline. Yusuf, a six year old boy, wanders about, searching for both his father and the meaning of life, in no particular order.

His father suffers the trials of Job, his bees have vanished for no apparent reason and he has a family to feed. An accident leads to dads early demise, so most of the film is told from the perspective of Yusuf, who as played by Bora Atlas, is an absolute casting miracle. The kid is tremendous; he owns the screen.

There is very little dialogue, so the actors must use their faces to portray real human emotions. The scenery is beautiful and the sounds of nature fill the air. In the mood for a quiet, thoughtful movie with actual heart and soul, then Bal should be just right.