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Turkey, Germany, France · 2010
1h 43m
Director Semih Kaplanoğlu
Starring Alev Uçarer, Erdal Besikçioglu, Tülin Özen, Bora Altaş
Genre Drama
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In the remote and undeveloped eastern Black Sea region, a six-year-old boy wanders through the woods searching for his lost father, trying to make sense of his life.
We hate to say it, but we can't find anywhere to view this film.
It has no musical soundtrack (and barely any dialogue), only a quiet, unforced, organic rhythm. And those spellbinding images. Like the viewer, Mr. Kaplanoglu is quite happy to let nature do the talking and cast a lyrical, mysterious spell.
Bal's familiarity doesn't breed contempt. It does make you wish, however, for something above and beyond the usual high-art-cinema catnip.
Though this graceful film is a minor addition to the canon of Middle Eastern cinema in which nothing and everything happens, Bal is still a beauty.
Bal mingles the bitter and the sweet, but it gets mired in its own stickiness.
A thoughtful and intelligent film, and should appeal to adventurous souls.
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