Bes Vakit – Times and Winds

Times and Winds is an impressionistic mosaic of life in a Turkish mountain village and the coming of age confusions of two boys and a girl. It follows the rhythm of everyday life in the village, according to the mosque’s calls for prayers and is divided into seven chapters – the days of the week.
Ömer, the son of the village imam, is confused by the changes in himself, by his feelings of loneliness and by his parents’ privileged treatment of his younger brother. Because of all of this, he secretly wishes for his father’s death. Ömer’s best friend has his own troubles and confusions, as he is secretly in love with the beautiful schoolteacher. During one of his voyeuristic trips he finds out that he is not the only one. The girl’s confusion lies in her relationship with her mother, who only has eyes for her baby.
All in all, it is not easy to be this age and to be brought up by adults who seem not to be very direct towards their children. The film’s landscape and scene shots, accompanied by Arvo Pärt’s music, are breathtakingly wonderful. The film as a whole is an enriching and emotional trip for the senses. (LC)