‘Once Upon a Time in Anatolia’ is a commitment of the highest kind - not just for its 157-minute length, but for the slow and often obtuse tale, all in a foreign world and language.
Set in the dead of night, a group of men including a police commissioner, a prosecutor, a doctor and a murder suspect all search the cold, vast and dark countryside for a body buried after a brutal murder in a drunken stupor in a place the killer can no longer recognise. To stave off the cold and boredom, the men engage in typical mundane small talk where topics such as cheese verses yogurt, children, God and even death are all up for grabs. A doctor out on his first murder case is the main focus as he gets to know the practices and procedures of such as case, as well as the local prosecutor. His naïvety alongside the jaded regulars to such a scene offers slow-revealing yet deep insights into all involved on the long night.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA - TRAILER
Yes, the pace of the film can seem painfully slow, but as a look into human nature with a surprising and deeply interesting payoff, your dedication is rewarded.
Not for everyone, but a critical darling the world over - this is for those not afraid of a unique, laborious and insightful journey.