Ara

Ara stands out as an unconventional experiment in contemporary Turkish filmmaking. Written and directed by Ümit Ünal, one of the most acclaimed scriptwriters in Turkish cinema, Ara follows the complicated web of relationships between two middle-class couples in their thirties. Though hailing from different backgrounds and pursuing divergent careers, the four protagonists seem similarly trapped in inner conflicts. They fight, make up, bond, have sex, empathize and misunderstand in the space of an empty apartment, the shell that houses all the film’s situations. Ümit Ünal creates a microcosm with a simple camera, witty dialogue and characters that represent more than what they stand for, to explore without artifice the complexity of kinship and friendships.

Tue, Nov 13, 7:00 P.M. Q&A with director Umit Unal
Thu, Nov 15, 2 P.M.

Co-sponsored by Altyazi and the Moon and Stars Project

Filmmaker's Biography

Born in 1965 in Turkey, Ümit Ünal established himself first as a writer, novelist and screenwriter, authoring two novels, a book of short stories and eight Turkish feature films, all to acclaim. He directed his first feature film, 9 (2002), which earned several awards at various film festivals, in addition to being the official entry for Turkey for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards in 2003. He wrote and codirected his second feature film, Istanbul Tales (Anlat Istanbul), in 2004. Ara is his third feature film.

Festivals and Awards

• Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, 2007

Credits

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