Yazı Tura (2004)
Toss Up
In Turkish with English Subtitles, 102 minutes
IMDb: 8.2/10
Beyazperde: 7.8/10
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Synopsis:
Yazı Tura (Toss Up) melds the stories of two tragedies through the experiences of two young men, "Rıdvan the Devil," a soccer player from Göreme, and "Cevher the Ghost," a young man who is living with his father in Istanbul. After serving together in the army in Eastern Anatolia in 1999, both men return to their civilian lives. Rıdvan has lost his right leg, while Cevher has lost the ability to hear in his right ear after the explosion of a mine. In his first feature film, Yücel has created a story that will haunt audiences for days after leaving the theater. Yücel's deliberate attempt to disturb the audience and his avoidance of conventional storytelling techniques result in a fresh narrative that signals the emergence of a new auteur in Turkish cinema.
"...Nature also catches up with the protagonists of Uğur Yücel's highly acclaimed Toss-Up (Yazı Tura, 2004), which could be considered Distant's stylistic opposite. Shot on DV in a dislocating vérité style that borders on abstraction, the film portrays the lives of two soldiers who return from the army with sharp psychic and physical wounds. Both of their tales turn on overpowering natural forces: One finds the inability to keep his urges in check leads to ruin among the snowy wastes of his hometown, while the other experiences the massive 1999 Marmara Earthquake, forcing a redefinition of his suppressed fears and a reconnection with his family. Although, like Ceylan, Yücel also tackles emotional alienation, he gives in spectacularly: Toss-Up builds to near-operatic crescendos that might have placed the film firmly within the tradition of Turkish tearjerkers of yore, were it not so expertly directed and acted..." -- Bilge Ebiri, Cinema Scope 23
Festivals and Awards:
* International Istanbul Film Festival: Best Director, Best Actor (Olgun Şimsek), People's Choice Award (2005)
* Adana Film Festival: Best Director, Best Actor (Olgun Şimsek and Kenan Imirzalioglu), Best Supporting Actor (Teoman Kumbaracıbaşı) (2005)
* Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Official Selection (2005)
* Ankara International Film Festival: Best Actor (Olgun Şimsek), Best Original Music, Mahmut Tali Öngören Special Award (2005)
* Nuremberg Turkish-German Film Festival: Best Film (2005)
* SIYAD Film Critics Awards: Best Actor (Olgun Şimsek), Best Supporting Actor (Erkan Can), Best Original Music (2005)
* Golden Orange Antalya Film Festival: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Olgun Şimsek), Best Supporting Actress (Eli Mango), Best Supporting Actor (Bahri Beyat), Best Editing, Best Original Music, Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Make-Up Design, Best Sound Mixing (2004)
