MUSTANG (2015)
Mustang (2015): The Turkish Movie is the directorial debut of Deniz Gamze Erguven. It was nominated for Oscars and it won 35 awards across the world. It is a French-German-Turkish co-production. Surprisingly its nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film is from France, not Turkey.
Voiceover of Lale (Günes Sensoy) opens the film. Lale with her older sisters, Sonay (Ilayda Akdogan), Selma (Tugba Sunguroglu), Ece (Elit Iscan), and Nur (Doga Zeynep Doguslu) is about to board a bus after the closing term of school but they decide to walk. All the girls are confined after a harmless game in water with some classmates on their way back home. The game creates a scandal in the regressive coastal village.
Their grandmother (Nihal G. Koldas) beats them and takes a prompt decision to make them good brides, a sole role of a female life in the elderly matron’s mind. Magazines, movies, access to computer and phones are banned in case they corrupt them. There is a powerful scene where they mimic swimming in the room in the summer to rejoice the past gone freedom. Shopping, schooling and outing are banned but they are paraded in the market to attract suitors.
The camera goes through bodies of the actresses without making it titillating. There are scenes of all sisters entwined to signify their close-knit bond. The bond weakens with the marriage of each following distances. Since the movie is from Lale’s point of view, every time one of her sisters is offered to a suitor her reaction is evocative. There are significant close-ups of Lale when Nur is about to follow the string of arranged marriage. The recent polls in the country revealed that Turkish women feel regressive like never before in the existing reign. Director Erguven was brought up in France and Turkey so we may say that she tries to give voice to her experience.
A suggestive copulation act in a car parked in the middle of a market, surrounded by people is a mockery of moral principles. Uncle Erol (Ayberk Pekcan) a guardian of the orphaned sisters turns into a molester is a figure of the ailing patriarchy. Two times virginity tests are performed, first after the game with boys and right after her marriage Selma is rushed to the hospital because she did not bleed after intercourse. A peek into Turkish customs or a highlight of the patriarchal order and widespread gender bias in the society.
It is interesting how the girls accept new life with poise and yield to it. Gradually they acclimatise the bars, locked doors and all boundaries set around them. The eldest sister, Sonay is lucky enough to marry the man she loves, youngest sister Lale is the only one to get away from the theatrics of an arranged marriage and brave to run away with Nur from the house with the help of a truck driver, Yasin (Burak Yigit). The skyline of Istanbul represents the freedom they have as well as a contrast to the house they lived.
The characters and plot remind me of Virgin Suicides by Sofia Coppola. The cinematography is commanding to convey the claustrophobia of the barred house. Warren Ellis composed poignant music. Ece (Elit Iscan) is the only actress who faced the camera. None of the actresses worked on-screen before and it brings flawless screen presence and performances so natural. Mustang is a Jane Austen novel gone all wrong, a promising fairy tale turned into tragedy. It is a splendidly layered and sombre tale of brave and hopeful women. Erguven’s very courageous effort and work of art .
Verdict:
When I am not watching or reviewing movies, I am consumed by books, roaming around with my husband, or you will find us experimenting in the kitchen. Hope you enjoy my opinion here.
