The depth in Nuri Bilge Ceylan‘s THE WILD PEAR TREE is comparable to Andrej Zvyagintsevs LEVIATHAN from 2014: both films reflect on core questions about human existence in a series of polished dialogues and package them in an equally impressive visual and auditory epic. While the characters in LEVIATHAN become pure mouthpieces for the political and philosophical convictions of the director, the artistic statements and the setting fuse into convincing whole in THE WILD PEAR TREE. The plot is simple: a prospective teacher and writer returns to his hometown, where he hopes to publish his first book. The plan is complicated by his conflict-ridden relationships with friends and family, especially to his impenetrable father (Murat Cemcir). The wild pear trees become a symbol both for regional connectedness and intellectual self-isolation.

Yorick Berta

Translation: Elinor Lewy