Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
Director
Semih Kaplanoğlu
Cast
Alev Uçarer,
Erdal Beşikçioğlu,
Tülin Özen,
Bora Altaş
Genre
Drama
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.
The New York Times
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.
The New York Times by Andy Webster
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.
New York Post by V.A. Musetto
A thoughtful and intelligent film, and should appeal to adventurous souls.
The A.V. Club by Sam Adams
Bal mingles the bitter and the sweet, but it gets mired in its own stickiness.
Village Voice by Ella Taylor
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.
Time Out by David Fear
Bal's familiarity doesn't breed contempt. It does make you wish, however, for something above and beyond the usual high-art-cinema catnip.
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