Mustang

MUSTANG

Director : Deniz Gamze Erguven's

Year : 2016

Genre : Drama

Rating : ****

Despite losing out to Laszlo Nemes' gruelling Holocaust drama 'Son Of Saul' at this years Academy Awards, Denis Gamze Erguven's semi autobiographical 'Mustang' is an absolute must-see drama that explores troubling ideas and contentious social issues without ever succumbing to the exploitation, preachy platitudes or inflammatory finger-pointing of its lesser thematic counterparts. Hauntingly shot in the vast countrysides of Northern Turkey, 'Mustang' tells the story of five orphaned sisters who after frolicking with a group of boys in the sea, are imprisoned in their home by their judgemental uncle who sees their new-found sexuality as a serious threat to his fanatical ideologies. Seen through the eyes of the youngest child Lale, brilliantly played by Gunes Sensoy, 'Mustang' quickly develops a growing sense of dread and utter hopelessness as the girls are one by one chosen for marriage against their will. As should be the case with this most contentious of subject matter, 'Mustang' can be a very hard movie to watch at times - with Erguven's intrusive camera work and Warren Ellis' melancholic underscoring beautifully hitting home the feelings of fear and desperation present in every one of the girls terrific performances. Of course, the continuing debates about arranged marriage are as prescient as ever and while not entirely explicit about what religion or ideology leads to the horrifying on-screen circumstances, it is very clear through both the biting dialogue and brittle characterizations that the debut director is making a bold and, some would say, controversial statement about many ultra-conservative issues that still affect millions of women around the world today. But while harrowing and very upsetting to watch at times, 'Mustang' is also underpinned with an exuberent, almost contagious sense of adolescent rebellion and ecstatic vitality that helps to soften the films edge without ever diluting it's satirical potency. Sharp, funny, powerful, heartbreaking and utterly compelling, 'Mustang' is a masterwork of atmosphere and tone that is sure to feature on many critics top 10 lists of 2016 - not at least mine.