Films/DVD Asylum

"Once Upon a Time in Anatolia:" the masterpiece (so far) of the

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Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

Three men gather for a friendly evening of chat and drink. Soon after, one will be murdered. Where is the body? Why did the evening end in violence?

A snobbish prosecutor, hard-nosed police chief, a doctor, and several others set off in the dead of night with the suspects to find the burial site. As they search through the all-but-inpenetrable darkness, we not only learn about the crime itself, but much about all these men. The dialogue is as great as any you will ever hear; the film is as great as any I've ever seen.

Vengeance, guilt, repentance--- all are explored in seemingly casual speech.

This is a film that rewards multiple viewings: each and every time I've seen it (don't ask!) I have come away with a deeper respect for the artistry of Ceylan--- and more aware of how perfectly cast the principals were.

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