User Reviews

2022 model Ozan Açiktan movie.

'Kal', the last link of Açiktan's Netflix trilogy, returns to the frames and colors we remember from Açiktan 'Silsile'.

Burak Deniz's natural acting is magnificent in scenes that flow one after another for 100 minutes, connected by sharp cuts and soft dialogues.

For the last 30 years, especially for people who want to get rid of the rural stories that come one after the other in our 'Art-house' / 'festival' cinema and watch the stories of the people they meet every day in the cinema, Açiktan is like a space whose cinema has been saved.

Although he clearly describes all the characters and event cycles in the story he tells, he has also made his mark in this movie, Açiktan, who loves question marks with his brilliance from Hitchcock's admiration.

The end of the movie will be criticized by those who are not familiar with the movie Açiktan. Fortunately, Açiktan is one of our sane filmmakers who do not listen to such empty types/criticisms.

Just like in Silsile, the art team included every place where the movie takes place, every area that is in the background in the frames, into the story.

The music choices of the movie are also great.

It is a very good choice that there is no garish like HDR/Dolby Vision in the 4K movie, so they didn't overshadow the natural light choices in the movie.

The sound problem that Turkish cinema could not solve has never been a minus for Açiktan cinema. The film, which was mixed with Dolby Digital 7.1, was released as Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 on Netflix.

He was openly a name that I was always curious about his next project, and with KAL I learned that this will be the case in the future.

This movie, in my humble opinion, is a spot on depiction of what I call the "silent killer" of relationships. On the surface a relationship can seem almost perfect, two people loving each other very much, having fun together, living together. At the same time one of the partners in the relationship is slowly dying inside, and the unintentional "killer" is the other partner. The main character Semih loves Defne very much. But he wants all the benefits of a relationship and at the same time he doesn't want to be bound to the obligations of a relationship. For example, when the grandmother of Defne dies, instead of being there for her he makes up excuses to not be there for her. He doesn't even attend the funeral. The movie shows us how he has been ignoring all the signs that something was wrong with the relationship, and that the break up between Semih and Defne isn't as out of the blue as it seems in the beginning of the movie. On the other hand the character of Defne shows us what a lot of people do wrong when in a relationship. She puts the relationship and Semih first and allows Semih to not take into account what she wants in the relationship and in their life. The fact that their relationship ended is equally her fault as it is his, in my opinion. I think this movie Is a great eye-opener for people, whether they are a "Semih" or a "Defne".

"Don't Leave" is a deeply evocative film that masterfully explores the intricate dynamics of love, loss, and emotional detachment. At the heart of this narrative is Semih, a character whose struggle with emotional expression forms the crux of the story. His profound love for his girlfriend, juxtaposed with his inability to actively fight for the relationship, paints a poignant picture of a man wrestling with the ghosts of his past.

Semih's detachment is not just a personal battle; it's a reflection of his deeper unresolved feelings about his father's departure from his life. The film brilliantly uses this parallel to delve into the complexities of how past traumas can shape our present relationships. The departure of his girlfriend mirrors the abandonment he felt as a child, further intensifying his emotional turmoil.

The storytelling is subtle yet powerful, weaving a narrative that's both intimate and relatable. Semih's character resonates with anyone who has ever struggled with the challenge of expressing their deepest emotions. His journey through the film is a poignant reminder of the invisible burdens of past experiences.

In essence, "Don't Leave" is more than just a story about a failed romance. It's an introspective look at how our past can hold sway over our present, affecting our relationships in ways we might not fully understand. The film is a compelling exploration of the human psyche, inviting viewers to reflect on their own emotional journeys and the unseen impacts of their histories.