Winter Sleep

Winter Sleep is a Turkish drama exploring the vast divide between the rich and the poor in Anatolia through the egotism of one man.

Once an actor, Aydin (Haluk Bilginer) is now a man of business and runs a small hotel in Anatolia with his young but unhappy wife Nihal (Melisa Sözen) and his recently divorced sister Necla (Demet Akbag). Ever the theatrical, Aydin contentedly considers himself the “King” of his little town. But as the quieter winter season sets in and fewer guests check into their hotel, the three of them are left alone with their resentful feelings that have been quietly hiding beneath the surface and are soon affecting all of their relationships.

An incredibly intelligent piece of cinema, Winter Sleep explores Aydin’s delicately constructed ego through the tense conversations and confrontations between the different members of the fantastic cast. Psychologically searching, by the end of the film all of the characters’ inner most thoughts and feelings are laid bare and life in that small town can never be the same again.

This film is another triumph for director Nuri Bilge Ceylan (previous works include Once Upon A Time in Anatolia) who once again challenges the audience’s expectations of cinema. Having won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Winter Sleep is now tipped for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards. Beautifully crafted, it’s a must see for any foreign language film fans.

Jess Walker