Reminiscent of Corneliu Porumboiu's Police, Adjectiv for its marathon run time (film is easily over the two-hour mark, but doesn't feel like it) and wry sense of humor in what essentially tackles the underlining politics in procedural police work, Ceylan's Grand Prix winner (tied with the Dardennes' Kid With a Bike) has found a home with The Cinema Guild folks and though no immediate plans were made for a 2011 release, expect the ideal locations of TIFF and NYFF to provide settings for the North American and U.S premieres.
Gist: Once Upon a Time in Anatolia is lyrically described as set in a small town is akin to journeying in the middle of the steppes: the sense that "something new and different" will spring up behind every hill, but always unerringly similar, tapering, vanishing or lingering monotonous roads... A better breakdown synopsis comes from the press release: A haunting story about a group of men, among them a local prosecutor, doctor, police chief and two murder suspects, who go in search of a missing body in the Anatolian steppes.
Worth Noting: Including Anatolia, Ceylan has won prizes for his past four films in Cannes: “Distant” (2003) Grand Prix/Best Actor, FIPRESCI award for “Climates” (2006) and Best Director for “Three Monkeys” (2008).
Do We Care?: While mostly everyone was smitten by the Dardennes, Kaurismaki, Almodovar and Woody Allen at this year's Cannes Film Festival, I personally thought that it was Nuri Bilge Ceylan who provided the most bang for the buck among the returning V.I.P auteurs that the festival adores. Along with perhaps the Paul Thomas Andersons, Reygadas, Almodovars and Jacques Audiards, Ceylan has a string of contemporary films that merit a retrospective treatment -- each work only confirms the brilliance behind the vision. Though I sense I was fired up for the late in festival screening and late night showing of the film in Cannes, I'm looking forward to revisiting with the film outside of a festival showing.
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