The Wild Pear Tree (2018)
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The Wild Pear Tree Movie Review
The Wild Pear Tree is a 2018 Turkish drama film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and starring Aydin Dogu Demirkol. It’s a long, but actually very good and to me important movie.
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“I don’t have anything against animals or nature.
But I have no patience with people. I can’t stand them“
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Sinan is passionate about literature and has always wanted to be a writer. Returning to the village where he was born, he pours his heart and soul into scraping together the money he needs to be published, but his father’s debts catch up with him. The plot is strong and although the movie is very slow and long, it’s rather engaging throughout its runtime, despite maybe a couple of segments here and there, especially in the first half.
I personally connected with the protagonist Sinan quite a bit which is problematic, but unfortunately that’s how it is. He’s a somewhat misanthropic man who doesn’t really understand other people and wherever he goes, he has that problem. It’s more extreme with him, but I am also rather similar and that’s why seeing this kind of character in a movie was crucial for me personally as I almost never see people like myself on film.
I connected with him so much that the movie turned out to be very personal for me and thus I overlook some of its more obvious flaws. I found the themes particularly strong and the examination of such a person and his role in modern society was cleverly done. The other characters are unfortunately not as well developed, but the father is an important figure here and the relationship between the two is so poignant and tough to watch, but needed.
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The Wild Pear Tree is extremely long and drawn out, there is no denying that. Some of the first half scenes could have easily been cut off, but the second half is great and I wouldn’t touch it at all. The cinematography is fantastic and the film captures its rural setting so well and particularly the titular pear tree. Some imagery here is poetic even. The direction from Nuri Bilge Ceylan is strong per usual, though ‘Winter Sleep’ was certainly better. But this movie needs to be seen for its themes (alienation and rural versus urban) and particularly amazing dialogue. Many conversations here are so thought-provoking and brilliant that I adored listening to them, even if it made the movie too theatrical I guess for some.
The Wild Pear Tree is certainly drawn out in runtime, especially in the first half, and it has probably too much dialogue for many, but I love that and I found many of its conversations thought-provoking and brilliant. The movie needs to be seen for its dialogue alone as well as some important themes, and I also personally connected with the protagonist Sinan and seeing such a different, alienated main character in a movie was certainly very refreshing.
