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'Karışık Kaset': Finally, Something Delightful From Turkish Cinema

20.11.2014 17:25

The full-on romantic comedy is not a genre that has been properly explored in the cinema of Turkey, although almost all audiences are way too familiar with its conventions and clichés thanks to Hollywood and the American independents. The genre's audience-friendly nature can repel those who are looking.

The full-on romantic comedy is not a genre that has been properly explored in the cinema of Turkey, although almost all audiences are way too familiar with its conventions and clichés thanks to Hollywood and the American independents. The genre's audience-friendly nature can repel those who are looking for something more artistically meaningful; but let's be honest, especially for female audiences there are a couple of gems in there that we can never forget and sometimes re-watch over and over again with BFFs. Say, for example, “Annie Hall,” “When Harry Met Sally” and even “Bridesmaids” -- classics that have managed to speak to many over the years. And although the local “Sex and the City” offshoot “Romantik Komedi” is among the most prominent examples of the genre in Turkey, one has to question the genuineness and the long-term value of the project.

And yet, finally there comes a film of our own that all can be proud of. “Karışık Kaset” (Mixtape) comes as an antidote for those who have been looking for a truly romantic story that's both funny and intelligent and portrays realistic characters that are actually easy to associate with from a socioeconomic point of view.

First-time director Tunç Şahin (one of the founders of the independent production and distribution company Bir Film) proves that he is an assured craftsman with an impeccable sense of timing for comedy and also a sensitivity for differing male and female emotional standpoints. From start to finish, the film -- based on Uygar Şirin's novel of the same name -- glides through its atmosphere in an effortless way and manages to seduce us into the star-crossed tale of two very cute and likable romantic leads, performed by two different generations of actors.

We start in 1990 in the suburbs of İstanbul. Thirteen-year-old music aficionado Ulaş (Ulaşcan Kutlu) is in love with the girl next door, İrem (Aslıhan Kapanşahin). The two are good friends and roam about in the neighborhood with their posse of friends, doing what all kids do. Ulaş is a sweet kid but he's extremely shy when it comes to exposing his feelings, so he's got a plan to confess his love to İrem by way of preparing her a mixtape of the best and most significant Turkish pop songs.

Both kids come from loving yet problematic families -- Ulaş's mother is frustrated by the efforts of his procrastinating father Ali (the wonderful Bülent Emin Yarar) to finish his never-ending book about contemporary Turkish music, while İrem's parents are on the brink of divorce. What's so engaging about this first act of the film is that we realize we're not just watching a foolish and childish crush, but rather a moment in the lives of two very young souls as they grapple with trying to understand the world around them and experience the harsh truths of growing up, all the while finding strength in each other's company.

There is something more than mere nostalgia in this sequence. It is also fine introspection into our adolescent experiences, which come to define us when we grow up. As such, it is this portion of the film that makes the remaining acts important. Just when Ulaş is finally about to present his cassette, things go utterly wrong thanks to a series of misunderstandings, and the poor kid is left heartbroken and İrem's family moves away.

Cut to 10 years later, 2000: The music scene has changed, but Ulaş (now portrayed by Sarp Apak) is still a music lover as always. He works in a bank but does freelance reporting for the music section of a newspaper. One day by chance he encounters İrem (Özge Özpirinççi) at a bookstore and they end up spending a whole day and night together. Years have passed, but these two are still as tight as ever. But once again misunderstandings and inconveniences take their toll, and the two part ways.

The third act begins in 2010, and this time they encounter each other in a hilarious sequence that takes place at a friend's boat wedding, where Ulaş ends up getting wasted and making a fool of himself. We ask ourselves that genre question: Will he pull himself together and solve his daddy issues, stop acting like a jerk and win back İrem? While the answer might be obvious, we savor every minute of the pleasure of watching the story unfold.

One of the strongest points of “Karışık Kaset” is that although the story is told from the point of view of its male character, it does not fall into the mistake of presenting a fantasized cardboard central female character. İrem is a full-fledged intelligent and compassionate woman, with faults and shortcomings. Her actions make emotional sense, and she never puts up with Ulaş's tendencies to selfishness and need for validation. I rejoiced when she uttered the words “I'm not your mother.”

This is a stellar film, but it's not just the directing and acting talent that elevates “Karışık Kaset” but also the high production values instilled by the cinematography of Deniz Eyüboğlu Aydın, the editing of Osman Bayraktaroğlu and the very astute use of music, which encompasses some of the most influential Turkish pop songs. See this film, it won't just make you feel good, you'll actually feel the joy of watching something profound.

EMİNE YILDIRIM (Cihan/Today's Zaman)



 
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