April 13, 2022

This a curious film to watch. Emir Ozden is really quite good as the young man ("Umut"), a long-time member of his school water polo team, who comes to the rescue of a young lad being beaten up. His team-mates see a picture taken from an high angle CCTV camera shortly after the assault, and it looks like the two boys are kissing. Where this story now diverts from the norm is that there is no violence towards him. His colleagues effectively shun h… read the rest.

This a curious film to watch. Emir Ozden is really quite good as the young man ("Umut"), a long-time member of his school water polo team, who comes to the rescue of a young lad being beaten up. His team-mates see a picture taken from an high angle CCTV camera shortly after the assault, and it looks like the two boys are kissing. Where this story now diverts from the norm is that there is no violence towards him. His colleagues effectively shun him. They refuse to get changed with him - constantly demanding that he confirm (or not) his homosexuality. A statement he resolutely refuses to make. The young man faces exasperation not only with his predicament at school, but with his frequently drunken father (his parent's relationship is none too robust, either) and it all just proves too much and he runs away. To where? Will he return? Are his colleagues at all remorseful at their behaviour? The story manages to convey his growing frustration and determination quite effectively, though the parental sub-plot frequently just gets in the way. The production standards are adequate. The writing could do with beefing up a bit, but the ending is either remarkably annoying or potent... or both?

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