At 196 minutes, this is definitely the longest film of the semester; it could also be the best. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2014 and popular at CIFF 2014.

Set in the unique Cappadocia area of central Turkey, we join our main character Aydin, a retired actor living in the small hotel that he inherited from his father. He has other properties and acts like a medieval landlord with no social responsibility. This causes discontent in the community and doesn’t sit well with his much younger, and increasingly independent, wife Nihal. Tourists are scarce in winter, so Aydin is more involved with his unhappy sister Necla getting over a divorce, with Nihal, and with the local people. The harsh weather makes life difficult when people are forced to go outside, and causes tensions as everyone spends more time sheltering indoors. Naturally, nerves get frayed. There are many long and detailed conversations which explore human frailties. It is an intelligent and beautifully crafted film.

Some CIFF attendees thought it was too long, comparing the experience of keeping up with the subtitles to that of reading a book with someone else turning the pages too fast. I disagree, believing its length gives us time to get to know the film’s characters deeply. I’m truly excited at the opportunity to see it again.

Final warning – your committee consulted long range weather forecasters to pick an especially cold Canberra night to add realism to your experience. Rug up!