A bear, awakened early from hibernation and hungry, stalks the snow-covered forest of a remote and tiny mountain town. At the same time a young nurse, Asli, arrives in the village to start a new life. This movie has a very unique idea on the relationship between human and nature.
The main character has a man in her way on every turn. The film shows three man figures that are prominently on the list of the most threatening to her independence.
1. Hasan, the local conservative drunk who hates bears at least as much as he hates women
2. Samet, the kind and helpful mountain man, the protector of wildlife, whose obsession with Asli might be as - if not more - dangerous as Hasan's behaviour
3. Asli's father, who doubts and seeks to control her from afar.
The movie beautifully shows Asli's struggles to find her own path through the woods full of dangerous beasts, human and animal.
It is rather an art film than a mystery drama. It rather puts the emphasis on the dynamics of the little town, far from civilisation. Shows the untrusting of the locals to strangers, the hidden tenderness of this society and the overall behaviour norm in such towns: the gossips, the convergence, the excommunication, the family dynamics.
It is also a melancholic tale of self-discovery.
The view and the visual representation is breathtaking. The cinematography is artistic. For me it was even more unique that such a frozen and cold movie takes place in Turkey, which is known as a popular holiday destination to Europeans with its hot summers and sunny beaches. It really did put the country in a new perspective.
I am really fond of folk traditions, religion and superstitions in movies. This film has fortune tellings from tea leaves, sacred tree, lamb sacrifice to God and, most importantly, the belief of that nature takes its revenge.
The figure of the bear is also highly interesting. It appears like a dark, scary shadow, levitating above the head of the village, a never ending threat. Is the bear real or it's just the imagination of the locals?
The title of the movie makes the right order: the snow is the star. The bear, while it does make a brief appearance, is frequently referenced and serves more as an idea or symbol. But the snow covers everything; physically and metaphorically. It covers the roads making the town unreachable but also covers the secrets, crimes and hatred of the townspeople. Snow is the backdrop and is alternatively threatening and protective, a force that can not be controlled. It is beautifully photographed, with infinite colors and textures. The sound of walking on packed snow at night, or the beauty of standing in a gentle snow fall, feel very tangible.
However, it was not the chilly murder mystery i expected and it felt like it is hard for the plot to even begin. So i can tell it is not a rapid and vivid thriller but rather a meditative art film. It also had much more potential, i did not really feel that it is complete.
The ending seemed to be a little unfinished too but i liked the last conversation between Asli and Samet.
Nature did take its revenge. But was it the nature of the world or the nature of man?
