Abu Dhabi: This minimalist but beautifully lensed story, is far more complex than its simple structure suggests. "Zephyr" is a mesmerizing mood piece that captures the inner life of a troubled child.
Even though in Turkish with English sub-titles, the colourful photography in the first debut feature film by Turkish filmmaker Belma Bas, speaks for itself.
Zephyr (Seyma Uzunlar), an 11-year-old girl, spends her summer vacation with her stoic grandparents who live in a pleasant and environmentally-friendly countryside on the mountains, yet the immense beauty surrounding Zephyr doesn’t seem to entertain her.
Grandparents (Sevinc Bas, and O. Rustu Bas, the helmer's parents) lead a humble and traditional life, drinking fresh cow milk, foraging for mushrooms in the lush forest and hunting strawberries for jam. The action takes place in the picturesque foothills of the eastern Black Sea Mountains near Ordu.
Zephyr struggles with an unremitting sense of abandonment. With no father, and increasingly missing her absent mother’s attention, she’s stuck in pre-teen limbo.
Unable to deal with her mother’s long non-existence, Zephyr finds comfort by dreaming of images of her mother. Her imagination remains chimerical, until one day her 40-year-old globetrotting activist mother, Ay, (Vahide Gordum) finally shows up to confess that she will soon depart again, the stage is set for a tragic finale.
The argument between mother and daughter that follows is both gripping and unexpected, and to that end the events should remain a surprise to the viewer, so we won’t elaborate, but it’s the symbolism that follows the incident that’s interesting.
It appears that the director was trying to send the audience a message. Zephyr had finally come to trust her new world in the countryside, and despite all the agony and difficulties she’s faced she realizes she wants to move on.
Viewers never learn what the mother does, or why she needs to leave again. Likewise, we don't know how long Zephyr has been with her grandparents or where they normally live.
If you’re environmentally friendly you’ll definitely enjoy some of the amazing shots in the film. The photography was definitely the best part about it. But apart from that, the story itself was depressing. Director Belma Bas must have had a motive behind writing Zephyr. Too bad she wasn’t around to speak about it!
It appears that the director at that point was trying to send the audience a message. Zephyr had finally come to truss with her new world in the countryside, despite all the agony and difficulties she’s faced she realizes she wants to move on, and the incident was an accident.
Film Review
Viewers never learn what the mother does, or why she needs to leave again. Likewise, we don't know how long Zephyr has been with her grandparents or where they normally live.
If you’re environmentally friendly you’ll definitely enjoy some of the amazing shots in the film. The photography was definitely the best part about it. But apart from that, the story itself was depressing. Director Belma Bas must have had a motive behind writing Zephyr. Too bad she wasn’t around to speak about it!
