Sivas (2014)

Sivas: Directed by Kaan Müjdeci. With Okan Avci, Cakir, Ezgi Ergin, Banu Fotocan. An eleven-year-old boy and a weathered fighting dog develop a strong relationship after the boy finds the dog wounded in a ditch, left to die.

“This movie could be watched at three times speed and nothing would be missed – even then it stands the chance of boring the discerning viewer with its labored sparse treatment. The script could be read over one cup of coffee but might then put you off your breakfast. How this overrated quickie found its way into festivals tells us much about:- whats being made, the organizers, and their followers. Shoddy hand-held photography is no help (regardless of its so-called u0026#39;modernityu0026#39;) itu0026#39;s simply cheaper and faster to work this way.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe director/writer/producer Kaan Mujdeci and his cameraman Armin Dierolf wander aimlessly about the unattractive landscape – following the equally unattractive human elements of the u0026#39;plotu0026#39;. The stories main characters are an 11yr old foulmouthed schoolboy, his foulmouthed pals and his uninteresting foulmouthed family. The unfortunate viewer is expected to follow them as they engage in their soulless plans to participate in as many repugnant, and highly illegal, dog fights as they can hide from the police. There are no high aims here, just low-life humans turning good sheep dogs into their equal within the animal kingdom. The movie claimed no animals were harmed – sparking jeers from many of the educated members of the audience at Venice in u0026#39;14 but, the jury had already cast their vote beforehand (also quite telling).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVarietyu0026#39;s review was reasonably accurate but rather obviously stopped short of being fully honest. If you can tolerate fly-on-the-wall, ultra suspect el cheapies then join the festival crowd and suffer this obnoxious work as it meanders along its inhumane path. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVery little to recommend it. In fact, almost makes you wonder why even make it? – Not a good look for the Doha Institute or the German/Turkish movie industry.”