Egg

Egg, a Turkish drama movie released in 2007, directed by Semih Kaplanoglu, stars acts like Nejat Isler, Saadet Aksoy, and Ufuk Bayraktar. Embracing a simple yet aspiring cinematographic excellence this film has been described as a poetic slice of Turkish rural life which was put elegantly, with utmost simplicity and texture of authenticity.

The story unfolds through the protagonist, Yusuf (Nejat Isler), a middle-aged, socially withdrawn poet living in Istanbul who receives an unexpected phone call about his mother's old friend suffering a fatal illness in his mother's rural village. This phone call triggers Yusuf to leave his shell in Istanbul and embark on a journey into the heart of the Anatolian countryside, where he spent his childhood years.

Upon arrival, Yusuf is greeted by an old childhood friend, Mikail (Ufuk Bayraktar), and he also meets Ayla (Saadet Aksoy), the beautiful and enigmatic daughter of his mother's friend who is caring for her ailing granny. During his stay, Yusuf is seen revisiting his old childhood haunts, rekindling his connections with the past while navigating the complexities of the present.

The beauty of Egg lies in its cinematography which weaves a story more powerful than words. Nothing much happens throughout the film, yet a lot happens in subtle waves; shots that linger on the barren landscape, the rustic lifestyle, and the quiet characters carry enormous emotional weight. Director Kaplanoglu masterfully uses metaphors and symbolic elements, especially eggs which feature prominently in the plot, as a metaphor, life cycle, and rebirth.

Nejat Isler portrays Yusuf beautifully, exploring a range of emotions, from nostalgia to melancholy, humor to romance, with a nuance that gives his character depth. His interactions with Mikail and Ayla, who are also splendidly portrayed by Ufuk Bayraktar and Saadet Aksoy respectively, act as catalysts that expose his vulnerabilities, passions, and doubts.

Through barren fields, empty houses, and lonely tree-lined roads, Egg subtly tells a story about time, modernity, solitude, and creativity. It sharply contrasts between urban and rural life, revealing the isolation experienced not just by Yusuf, but the people in the village, especially Mikail, struggling with the effects of modernity. The sequences of the village lifestyle and the rice harvest point towards the fading customs and traditions, precipitated by an onslaught of the new ways.

Additionally, the film explores themes of aging, mortality, and the passage of time, reflecting these through the people and UAE landscape. The beauty of the natural world in juxtaposition to the harsh realities of life in the village offers a sobering meditation on the universal human condition.

Egg is deliberately slow-paced, lacking the distracting frills, thrills, and dramatic scores common in mainstream cinema. Instead, it places the viewer in Yusuf’s position, experiencing his journey, his struggles, and his silent musings. The film's leisurely pace gives viewers ample time to absorb the beauty of the scenes, allowing the candid storyline to unfold naturally.

It is important to note that Egg is the first installment in the “Yusuf Trilogy” by director Kaplanoglu. This trilogy follows the life of Yusuf in reverse chronological order; egg (birth), milk (boyhood), and honey (adulthood). Beyond it's slow-burning narrative, it sets the stage for an emotionally haunting viewing of Yusuf's journey when viewed as a part of the larger trilogy.

Egg is an experience for the senses, a masterpiece that gently touches the soul and leaves a lingering taste of sweet sorrow. It's an invitation to appreciate art-house cinema, to participate in an introspective journey with Yusuf, and to reflect on our lives through an abstract mirror. It's a hidden gem; a must-watch for lovers of slow cinema and those who appreciate the powerful presentation of deeply human themes through simplicity and authenticity.