What a father keeps hidden is revealed in the son.|Aug. 08, 2018|Turkey | Republic of North Macedonia | France | Germany | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Sweden | Qatar|188 Min.|n/A
Genre: Adventure;Documentary;Drama;Mystery;Reality;Thriller;TV;Movie;Western
Description: Sinan, a young and aspiring writer, has just completed college. Upon returning to his hometown of Çan, he seeks local funding to publish his debut manuscript, which he describes as a “quirky auto-fiction meta-novel.” However, he quickly realizes that the locals show no interest in his work. To make matters worse, he discovers that his eccentric father, Idris, has squandered the family’s wealth due to a severe gambling addiction, leaving them in financial ruin. Feeling isolated and concerned about his future, Sinan roams the countryside, engaging in heated discussions with relatives and locals, including a well-known writer and two imams with contrasting views on religion’s role in modern society.
Frustrated by his father’s destructive behavior and suspecting him of theft, Sinan sells his father’s beloved dog to secure funds for publishing his book. He then leaves town to fulfill his mandatory military service. Upon his return, Sinan learns that his father has abandoned the family and is now living as a shepherd. The two eventually reunite and share a heartfelt conversation. Idris admits he has given up his futile attempt to dig a well on their barren land and reveals that he has read and enjoyed Sinan’s book, making him the only one who seems to have done so. In a surreal twist, Sinan appears to have hanged himself in the abandoned well, but the scene abruptly shifts to Idris waking up. Searching for his missing son, Idris finds Sinan at the bottom of the well, continuing to dig.
Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan drew inspiration for the film from a father and son who were his neighbors near Çanakkale, Turkey, where he grew up. Akın Aksu, the real-life son, co-wrote the screenplay and portrays Imam Veysel in the film. The script is largely based on Aksu’s life and his two autobiographical novels, though Ceylan also incorporated elements of his own relationship with his father. The film’s title is derived from Aksu’s short story, *The Loneliness of the Wild Pear Tree*.
Cast director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Cast actor: Aydın Doğu Demirkol, Murat Cemcir, Bennu Yıldırımlar, Hazar Ergüçlü, Serkan Keskin, Tamer Levent, Akın Aksu, Ahmet Rıfat Şungar, Kubilay Tunçer, Öner Erkan
Original name: Ahlat Ağacı