Motherland Hotel

Colour, 35 mm
Turkey, 1986, 110 min
Section: Ten Best Turkish Films

Synopsis

Ömer Kavur recreates Zebercet, the receptionist of a sad, bleak hotel in a small Anatolian town, adapting him from Yusuf Atılgan’s novel in an attempt that seemed risky to others. A film about loneliness and solitude, obsession and depression, evidently one of the most painful films in Turkish cinema. Here we have the story of the disintegration of someone who is unaware of the thin ice he stands on. The tragic Zebercet, hopelessly awaits the return of a mysterious woman who once came with the Ankara train and stayed a single night in the hotel, turning this ‘dream-real’ woman into an obsession. He gradually moves away from the reality of everyday life and becomes increasingly introverted, a process reflected in the hotel itself. The film creates the reality of closed spaces and a dream-like atmosphere reminiscent of Kubrick’s The Shining.

About the director

Ömer Kavur (b. 1944, Ankara) studied sociology, journalism and film in Paris. He has directed many documentaries and commercials. His films were awarded prizes at the Antalya Film Festival and were highly recommended in the film critics’ annual selections. Motherland Hotel (Anayurt oteli)has won many awards - the Golden Orange in Antalya and a prize from the Nantes IFF, particularly for its economical and simple narration, where the director succeeded in creating a universally comprehensive work. Blindfold (Körebe) Desperate Road (Amansız Yol) and Night Journey (Gece Yolculuğu) were awarded by the Ministry of Culture. Kavur has also won international awards and his films have been screened in retrospectives at various international festivals.