From Far Away

A road movie originating in the Director’s “home town” of Istanbul winding through the country to the Iran border. Just like No Comment on Euro News, the camera reels without comment, (well, except for very occasional comments from Arslan) and thus actually documents points of life along the way. The images are the story. This is a good movie for anyone who simply wants to sit back and experience real life in Turkey without actually going and not have to think too much about the political, environmental, or developmental issues there. The images are sometimes quaint, sometimes striking, though some scenes go on long enough to let the mind wander…outside of the film. For people who have been through Turkey, this could feed their notalgie. Just as Arslan seems in some way, to wax sentimental in his journey following his roots. Come with your curiosity peaked, or you might get sleepy. This film was part of the 2006 Berlinale.